Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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IMPROVED LATCHABLE SCAFFOLD PLANKS
Cross-Reference to Related Application
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
62/531,439 filed July 12, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in
its entirety.
Background
A scaffold frame is an interconnected series of horizontal vertical scaffold
members
and vertical scaffold members used to create a supporting structure for an
elevated work
surface. The horizontal and vertical scaffold members are generally pipe
shaped members
(circular or square in cross section, for instance) where the ends of each
horizontal scaffold
member terminates in connectors that attach to a vertical scaffold members.
The connectors
can be clamp members (such as in tube and clamp scaffolding, see for instance,
Figure 4) or
more complex connectors, such as scaffolding where an end connector is
positioned on the
end of a horizontal member, and where the end connector has a lip or hook
section that
couples with a structure on a vertical scaffold member. The lip sections are
designed to
engage or rest on the corresponding vertical joint connector, such as an
upstanding
cup or an annular ring positioned on a vertical scaffold member. One such
joint is
disclosed in U.S. patent number 4,445,307, which discloses a connector
positioned on a
horizontal scaffold member, where the connector has two vertically spaced hook
sections.
Another cup type of latching connector is disclosed in U.S. patent numbers
5,078,532 and 5,028,164 and in U.S. application number 12/489,166 all hereby
incorporated by reference. These patents also show an end connector positioned
on a
horizontal scaffold member, where the connector has two vertically spaced
hooked sections
that couple with two vertically spaced upstanding cup or ring members located
on the
vertical scaffold member. In this device, the hooked sections engage the top
edge of the cup,
and a pivoting member or latch, positioned on the horizontal end connector, is
pivoted
into position below the cup member.
Instead of upstanding cups, a flat annular ring with openings in the ring may
be
used as the vertical connector on the vertical scaffold member, to couple to a
connector on a horizontal scaffold member. Examples of annular ring/connector
systems are
shown in U.S. patent numbers 4,273,463; 6,027,276; 5,961,240; 5,605,204 and
4,840,513; all
of which are hereby incorporated by reference. These systems are generally
referred
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to as wedge or pinlock scaffold systems. The pinlock system relies upon a
wedge or pin
being slidable (generally hammer driven) through the horizontal end connector
and
rosette. The above "system" scaffolds require a horizontal member to couple to
a
vertical member, that is, a horizontal member cannot couple to another
horizontal
member.
Once a scaffold frame is erected, an elevated work surface is created by using
scaffold boards that are supported at each end of the board by horizontal
scaffold frame
members. Typically, scaffold boards or planks are wooden, fiberglass, or metal
board-like
members, having a length (such as 10 feet) and a width, such as 9 inches. A
scaffold board
generally comprises a top surface, such as 6 inch, 9 inch, 12 inch, or 18 inch
wide board, and
come in various lengths, such as 2 feet long to 10 to 16 feet long. A typical
metal scaffold
board is shown in figure 2, showing a metal plank 1, having a top surface 40,
and two side
rail extensions 70 extending downwardly at about 90 degrees to the top surface
1 adjacent the
edges of the top surface. The top surface 40 can be a solid surface, a surface
with drain holes,
or formed from a series of metal plates. The scaffold plank side rails 70 may
be integrally
formed with the top surface (such as by roll forming the plank from a single
piece of metal),
or may be separately attached, such as by welding, riveting, etc. Each metal
board top surface
has two terminating ends, (a first terminating end edge 202 and a second
terminating end
edge 204 (not shown). The edge is linear, but may be curved. Also shown in
Figure 3, the
board 10 has a first side edge 212 and a second side edge 214. Located near
each terminating
end edge is at least one (preferably two or more) clip members 50. As shown in
Figure 2,
one embodiment of clip members 50 are downwardly facing shaped members, shaped
to
engage a horizontal scaffold member in a channel 52 or cutout section. As
shown, the clips
are "U" shaped members, one attached to each side rail. The clips can be L
shaped member,
or other "hook" type of engagement members. In the embodiment shown in figure
2, each
clip 50 has a leading downward facing lip portion 51 (forming a hook-like
structure) and a
downward facing channel 52 behind the lip, such as formed by the interior of
the "U." The
channel 52 is located between the lip 51 and the adjacent terminating edge of
the scaffold
board. The channel 52 may end before the respective terminating end edge, or
at the
terminating end edge, or in other embodiments, behind the terminating end
edge. When the
scaffold board 10 is placed in a scaffold structure, the clip channel 52 will
rest or engage a
horizontal scaffold member, thereby supporting the scaffold plank 10. The
scaffold plank 10
can also be a series of metal strips (such as inch wide metal strips,
interconnected to create a
"grated" scaffold board). In this instance, the side rails will include outer
lengthwise
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connecting metal strip(s). Connected to the grated surface at the two
terminating ends of the
plank are downwardly facing shaped clips 50 and the adjacent channel 52, for
engaging a
horizontal scaffold member. The clips 50 can be vertical orientated plates,
such as shown in
Figure 2, or the clip plates 50 may be horizontally oriented, such as shown in
Figure 1, or
the clips may be square or circular or other shapes in cross section to couple
with a horizontal
scaffold member or another scaffold plank.
The scaffold elevated work surface (such as depicted in Figure 3) generally
forms a
continuous uninterrupted surface, with safety railing surrounding the work
deck or work
surface. Often however, the elevated surface may have to be constructed around
a structure or
obstacle. For instance, pipes, chimneys or conduits may need to extend through
the work
deck. An obstruction that penetrates through the deck of a scaffold deck will
leave an opening
in the deck, where the length of the opening corresponds to that of the
adjacent scaffold
board. To close the opening, often wooden scaffold boards are used, where the
boards are
placed across the metal planks (for instance, at 90 degrees to the metal
planks). However, the
wooden planks are a tripping hazard. As disclosed in provisional patent
application
62/490,908 filed on April 27, 2017, (incorporated by reference in its
entirety) a first scaffold
plank can be modified to couple to a second scaffold plank orientated about 90
degrees to the
first scaffold plank. In these embodiments, the scaffold plank is supported
by, but not locked
to, either a horizontal scaffold member or another scaffold plank. Heavy winds
or other
uplifting forces can cause such a scaffold board to be dislodged from the
scaffold frame. A
system is needed to lock a scaffold board in place with the supporting member,
or to an
adjacent scaffold board.
Summary of the Invention.
One embodiment of the improved latchable scaffold board has a board like
member with
fixed clips or brackets fixedly attached at each end of the board. The
brackets are shaped to
engage and capture a horizontal scaffold member. The board also has a movable
latch at at
least one end that move to a latched position, and in the latched position,
the movable latch
has a portion that is positioned below the horizontal scaffold member, thereby
trapping the
scaffold board to the horizontal scaffold member.
Brief Description of the Figures.
Figure 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a prior art low
profile scaffold
board.
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Figure 2 is a side perspective view of a prior art high profile scaffold
board.
Figure 3 is cartoon view of an elevated scaffold deck.
Figure 4A-1 is a top elevation view of one embodiment of an improved low
profile scaffold
board.
Figure 4A-2 is a side elevation view of one end of the scaffold board of
Figure 4A-1.
Figure 4A-3 and 4A-4 are exploded side views of embodiments of the biased
movable clips.
Figure 4A-5 is an end view of the scaffold plank of Figure 4A-1.
Figure 4A-6 is an end view of the front and back mounting plates used in the
plank of Figure
4A-1.
Figure 4B-1 is a top elevation view of one embodiment of the improved scaffold
plank.
Figure 48-2 is a side ghosted elevation view of one end of the scaffold board
of Figure 4B-1
showing details of the mounting clip.
Figure 4B-3 and 4B-4 are exploded side views of embodiments of the biased
movable clips
and the mounting brackets is for the clips of Figure 4B-1.
Figure 4B-5 is a cross section end view of the scaffold plank of Figure 4B-1.
Figure 4B-6 are cross sections through the mounting bracket used in the plank
of Figure 4B-
Figure 5A-1 is a top elevation view and an end view of one embodiment of an
improved low
profile scaffold board.
Figure 5A-2 is a side elevation view and an end view of one end of the
scaffold board of
Figure 5A-1.
Figure 5A-3 and 5A-4 are side elevation views of the clips used on the ends of
the board of
Figure 5A-1.
Figure 5A-5 is an end view of the mounting plates used in Figure 5A-1.
Figure 5B-1 is a top elevation view and an end view of one embodiment of an
improved low
profile scaffold board.
Figure 5B-2 is a side elevation view and an end view of one end of the
scaffold board of
Figure 5B-1.
Figure 5B-3 and 5B-4 are side elevation views of the clips used on the ends of
the board of
Figure 5A-1.
Figure 5B-5 is an end view of the top and bottom plates used to form the
scaffold board of
the embodiment of Figure 5B-1.
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Figure 6-1 is a top elevation view and an end view of one embodiment of an
improved low
profile scaffold board.
Figure 6-2 is a side elevation view and an end view of one end of the scaffold
board of
Figure 6-1.
Figure 6-3 and 6-4 are side elevation views of the clips used on the ends of
the board of
Figure 6-1.
Figure 6-5 is an exploded end view of the scaffold board of Figure 6-1 showing
the
relationship or the boards top and bottom structures.
Figure 6-6 are end views of the mounting plats used in the board of Figure 6-
1.
Figure 7 is a side view depicting one embodiment of the "low profile" boards
locked
together in a side-to-end configuration with movable locking clip engaged.
Figure 8 is a side view depicting one embodiment of the "high profile" boards
locked
together in a side-to-end configuration showing the movable locking clips
engaged.
Figure 9-1 is a top view of one embodiment of a movable clip in a unitary
mounting bracket.
Figure 9-2 is a side view of the clip and mounting bracket of Figure 9-1.
Figure 9-3 is an end view of the mounting bracket and clip of Figure 9-1.
Figure 10-1 is a ghosted side view of one embodiment of a low profiled plank
showing the
retracted, released and unlocked configuration of one embodiment of the
movable clip.
Figure 10-2 is a ghosted side view of one embodiment of a low profiled plank
showing the
locked, latched and deployed configuration of one embodiment of the movable
clip.
Figure 11 are side views of one embodiment of a high profiled plank showing
the latched
(or locked or deployed) configuration on one end of the board and the
unlatched (or unlocked
or retracted) configuration on the other end of the board.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The invention is an improved latchable scaffold plank. As shown in the view of
Figure Al, one embodiment of the plank is a board like member 10, having a
first and
second terminating ends 202, 204, first and second side edges 212, 214, a top
surface 40
extending between the two terminating ends 202 and 204 and two side edges 212,
214. Two
side rails 70, extending downwardly from the top surface at about ninety
degrees, and run
substantially the length of the board 10, and are positioned on the scaffold
board near the side
edges 212 and 214. Positioned at each near terminating ends 202, 204 is at
least one shaped
clip or cleat, 50, shaped to couple with a horizontal scaffold member. In
Figure 4A, two clips
50 are shown preferably fixedly positioned on each terminating end of the
board 10.
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However, more than two clips 50 may be used. The clips 50 may be attached to
board, or
integrally formed with the board. As shown in Figure 4A the clips 50 are "U"
or "C" shaped
clips extending outwardly from the terminating ends of the plank 10. The clips
50 can be
attached to the top surface 40, or side rails 70, or an endcap of the board
(if present), or be
integrally formed with the top surface or rails. Alternatively some of all of
the clips 50 on a
termination end may be attached to an end cap positioned between the side
rails on a
terminating end (not shown). In the embodiment shown in Figure 4A, the clips
50 are flat
metal plates bent in a "U" shape at the exterior end of the clip 50 (to couple
to a circular
horizontal scaffold member). Each clip has a downward terminating end with a
channel or
cutout section positioned between the terminating end of the board. The
channel is sized to fit
and engage a horizontal scaffold member within the channel, to capture the
horizontal
member when the clips are resting thereon. The bottom edge of the channel will
rest on the
horizontal scaffold member when joined. As shown in Figure 4A, the clip 50 is
a plate like
member orientated vertically (as opposed to orientated in a horizontal
orientation, such as
shown in Figure 1). The orientation of the clip 50 allows for the top surface
40 of the plank
in some embodiments such as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, to closely align with
the top
surface of a supporting horizontal member. The scaffold plank may include two
surfaces, a
top surface and a second lower surface 43, attached to the top surface 40 or
to the side rails
70, such as depicted in Figure 5A. The two joined surfaces provide for a more
rigid scaffold
plank capable of supporting higher loads without bending. As shown in Figure
4A, the top
surface 40 shown is formed from a metal plate, such as sixteen gauge steel,
with drain holes
there through.
As can be seen in Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C, the clips 50 on opposite terminating
ends
of a scaffold board are not aligned, but are offset to accommodate placement
of scaffold
boards "end-to-end" lengthwise on the same horizontal scaffold member. Also
shown in
Figure 1 is tab 90, which projects from the top surface of the board 40, and
has a thickness of
a clip. The tab 90 is placed near the side rail that lacks a clip 50, to
resist rotation of the board
on the supporting horizontal scaffold member of supporting board member. Tab
90 is
positioned so not to interfere or overlap with an adjacent scaffold board
clip, when placed
end-to-end lengthwise or in an end-to side configuration.
Side rails 70 are attached to or formed with the top surface 40 near the first
and
second side edges 212, 214, to provide stiffening. In one embodiment, shown in
Figure Al
and A2, the side rails are solid shaped members, shaped with a bottom facing
foot 71. The
side rail 70 has at least one outward facing surface 75, and one inward facing
surface 76. The
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side rails can be integrally formed with the top surface 40, such as by roll
forming, or the side
rails may be attached to the top of the plank 40, such as by welding or
attached with rivets or
other mechanical attachment means. The side rails 70 can be a more complex
assembled
structure having multiple "rails" or shaped metal pieces, with multiple inward
facing surfaces
76 and multiple outward facing surfaces 75, such as shown in Figures 5A and 5B
and 6. The
side rails 70 may also have openings there through, to reduce the weight of
the board. If
openings are included in the side rails 70, preferably the openings are
suitably sized to allow
for placement of a "slick tube" (a smooth tubular member lacking typical
horizontal end
connectors) through the openings, so that adjacent boards can be coupled with
the slick tube,
providing additional strength and stiffness to the decking formed from the
scaffold boards.
The top surface 40 of the scaffold board 10 may also have a series of openings
or slots
100. In the embodiment shown in Figures 5A and 6, the slots 100 are placed
near the
perimeter edges of the board, generally with at least a portion of the slot
100 extending
inwardly (or behind) the side rails 70, or at least extending inwardly of one
of the inward
facing surface 76 of the side rails 70. In the embodiment shown, the slots 100
are aligned
parallel with the side rails 70. The slots 100 in this embodiment are located
at a specific
distance from the edge of the board, and sufficiently sized to allow placement
of a clip 50 of
a second scaffold board, orientated at 90 degrees, through a slot 100. In this
configuration,
two boards are coupled in an "end-to-side" configuration, with the "end" of
one board
coupled to the "side" of a second board, allowing for two boards to be coupled
to each other
at about 90 degrees, without an intervening horizontal scaffold members, as
described in
patent application number 62/490,908.
Located on at least one terminating end of the scaffold board is a movable
clip 151 or
a movable latch member. The movable clip 151 is slidably coupled to the
scaffold board 10
in Figures 4A, 5A and 6. As shown in Figure 4A, 5A and Figure 6, the moveable
clip 151
is slidably mounted to two spaced apart hold down plates 191 and 190. As
shown, the hold
down plates can be mounted between the side rails 70, to the underside of the
top surface 40,
or otherwise fixedly attached to the scaffold plank 10. The two hold down
plates 191, 190
may be formed from a single member, such as the "U" shaped member 189 shown in
Figure
9, as depicted in Figures 5A and 5B. As shown, the rear hold down plate 191
has a center
lengthwise slot 193 to allow the movable clip 151 to side through the rearward
slot 153 (in
the retracted position), while the front hold down plate 190 may include a
circular cut-out
section 95 with top and bottom slots 196, 197, to allow the movable clip 151
and spring 200
to slide through the front hold down member 190 (see Figure 9).
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As shown in Figure 4A-3 and 4A-4, the movable clip 151 with a proximal and
distal
end, shown as a plate like member with a center cutout 153 between the two
ends. The
cutout 153 is to accommodate a biasing member 200, such as a spring 201,
positioned on the
movable clip 151 between the front hold down plate 191 and the rear hold down
plate 190.
As shown in Figure Al, the two terminating ends of the scaffold board are
mirror images,
with each end 204 and 202 having its own respective movable clip 151. While
preferred, this
is not necessary as later described.
Located on the proximal end of the movable clip 151 may be an upward facing
proximal tab projection 161 (see Figure 5A). On some embodiments, the top
surface 40 of
the scaffold board will have lengthwise slot(s) 41 and 42, (such as shown in
Figures 5A, 5B
and 6) in which the movable clips' projection tab projection 161 slides. In
this configuration,
the top of the tab portion will be approximately even or slightly above the
top surface of the
scaffold board. The lengthwise openings or slots 41 and 42 terminating ends
act as a front
and rear stop for the upward tabs 161. As shown, the slot runs 90 degrees or
perpendicular to
the associated terminating edge of the board. The slot may also be at an angle
other than 90
degrees, but in this case, the movable clip's projecting finger next described
may need to be
longer, or bent at an angle, or a combination of both (to extend the
projecting finger
underneath the horizontal scaffold member when joined). As shown in Figures 4A
and 48,
5B, 6 and 7, the movable clip has at least a bottom projecting finger 149.
Bottom projecting
finger 149 is positioned on the movable clip 151 so that when the movable clip
151 is in the
"locked," "deployed," or "latched" position, the bottom projecting finger 149
will be either
positioned underneath or adjacent to the underside of a joined horizontal
scaffold member, or
positioned to slide into a slot, or below the side rail 70, of an adjacent
board oriented about 90
degrees. Consequently, the vertical distance between the top edge of the
projecting finger and
the topmost portion of the bottom of a fixed clip is about the distance equal
to the diameter of
a joined horizontal scaffold member. In this fashion, the bottom projecting
finger 149 will
"lock" the terminating end of the scaffold board to the supporting member
(either a horizontal
scaffold member or an adjacent scaffold board), thereby resisting removal of
the board from
the support member. As shown in Figure 4A, the biasing member 200 (as shown,
spring 201)
biases the hold down plate 151 into a locked configuration, that is, with the
bottom projecting
finger 149 extended from the end of the scaffold board 10.
To place the scaffold plank with a biased slidable movable clip, into a
scaffold deck,
one end of the plank is positioned above the supporting member, such as a
horizontal scaffold
member, sufficiently to allow the fixed clips 50 shaped channels to be
positioned above the
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supporting member, preferably at an slight angle with respect to the
horizontal scaffold
member of about 5-30 degrees. As the scaffold board is moved forward and
downward,
toward the supporting member, the movable clip 151 will engage the supporting
member,
retracting inward toward the interior of the scaffold plank. This forward
motion continues
until the clip 50 channels 52 are positioned above the supporting member,
allowing the
scaffold plank to drop, with the clip channels engaging the supporting member.
See Figures
7, 8, 10 and 11. The movable clip 151 is now positioned below the supporting
member, and
the biasing member thus is biased into the locked position, trapping the end
of the scaffold
plank to the supporting member. The opposite end of the plank 10 can be
lowered onto the
opposite supporting member, with the second movable clip 151 on the opposite
end (if
present) again contacting the supporting member and retracting inwardly
(either manually or
via pushing on the biasing member), until the scaffold plank is lowered
sufficiently so that
the second movable clip's 151 bottom projecting finger is located below the
opposite second
supporting member, where the projecting finger is then biased forward, below
the second
supporting member, thereby latching that end of the scaffold plank to the
second supporting
member. If there is resistance to lowering the opposite end of the plank into
position onto a
supporting member due to the bottom projecting finger "catching' the
supporting member
and not retracting, the user may manually retract the bottom projecting
finger, such as by
using a flat bladed screwdriver or other tool positioned through the
respective slot 41 in the
top surface, catching the upward projecting tab 161 of the movable clip, and
pushing that tab
161 toward the other end of the plank, thereby retracting the movable clip 151
manually.
To remove a mounted scaffold plank, one movable clip 151 is captured and slid
to
the unlocked position (such as by using a flat bladed screwdriver or other
device in the
fashion in the previous paragraph, to slide the movable clip inwardly), or
pushing on top
projecting finger 160 (such as shown in Figure 9) if present. Once slid
inwardly sufficiently
so the bottom projecting finger 149 is clear of the supporting member (the
"unlocked
position" of the movable clip), that end of the plank can now be raised off
the support
member. The remaining latched end of the scaffold board may similarly be
detached from the
opposite supporting member. Alternatively, the mounting bracket could be
mounted on the
end edge, or a termination end cap of the scaffold board, to eliminate the
need for an opening
or slot opening in the top plank surface.
Instead of a single opening straight opening or slot, a curved opening in the
top
scaffold surface could be used where the entire movable clip is moved along
the curve from a
released position to a latched or locked position (as opposed to rotating
about a single point).
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As shown, each end of the scaffold plank has a single latchable movable clip,
preferably (but not required) shown as positioned near the middle of a
terminating end of the
scaffold plank. Additional movable clips may be provided on each end of the
scaffold plank,
or a single movable clip can be located other than in the middle of the plank.
Alternatively,
one end of the scaffold board may have one or more movable pins, while the
other end of the
scaffold board has a fixed bottom latching clip extending outwardly (as if in
the deployed
position for a movable clip). In this instance, the end of the plank with the
fixed latching clip
should be attachable to a supporting member, such as by positioning that end
above the
supporting member at an angle and joining the plank to the adjacent
horizontal, and rotating
the board until level (which also engages the opposite end of the scaffold
board with its
joining horizontal scaffold member. The other end of the board would
preferably have a
movable pin, allowing this end of the board to be latchable or lockable as
described above.
In other embodiments, the movable pin may be hand movable, as opposed to
biased in
one direction, preferably biased to the latched or locked position. That is,
the invention
includes a manually operated movable clip, that may include a biasing member,
such as a
spring.
Instead of a slidable latch member, the invention includes a rotatable latch
member or
rotatable clip, having a configuration similar to those for the slidable
clips. In this case, the
proximal end top projecting tab would preferably penetrate the top surface of
the scaffold
plank though an opening therein. A long slot would not be needed. The
projecting tab would
be graspable by an operator to rotate the movable clip from a retracted
position, to an engaged
or locked position, with the bottom lip positioned underneath the joining
horizontal. The
rotatably movable clip could be mounted on a bracket underneath the top
surface. In one
embodiment, the rotatable clip could be positioned in a mounting bracket. The
mounting
bracket could employ stops to hold the position of the movable clip in the
locked position (for
instance, the mounting bracket could have a ledge supporting the bottom of the
movable clip,
and in the locked position, the ledge drops downwardly, so the rotating clip
drops at the
locked position, requiring the operator to lift and move (rotate or translate
the movable clip) to
unlock or disengage/release the movable clip (the curved path could also be a
straight path
positioned at an angle other than 80 degrees from the terminating edge of the
board.
While the illustrative forms disclosed herein have been described with
particularity, it
will be understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and
can be readily
made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope
of the disclosure.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto
be limited to the
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example and descriptions set forth herein, but rather that the claims be
construed as
encompassing all the features of patentable novelty which reside herein,
including all features
which would be treated as equivalents thereof by those skilled in the art to
which this
disclosure pertains.
When numerical lower limits and numerical upper limits are listed herein,
ranges
from any lower limit to any upper limit are contemplated.
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