US2842408A - Scaffold - Google Patents

Description

- July 8, 1958 A. H. SYMONS 2,842,403

SCAFFOLD Filed March 8, 1956 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July s, 1958 A, H, SYMQNS 2,842,408

' SCAFFOLD Filed March 8, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ARTHUR H. SYMONS, DECEASED BY CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK AND TRUST COMPANY OF 0 ICAGQ, EXECUTOR BY M WATTORNEY United States Patent C) SCAFFOLD Arthur H. Symons, deceased, late of River Forest, 111.,

by Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, executor, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Symons Clamp & Mfg. Co., a corporation of Delaware Application March 8, 1956, Serial No. 570,383 4 Claims. 01. so4--4o The present invention relates generally to scaffolds for use in connection with building construction and other work. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of scaffold which is adapted to be assembled and dismantled at the place of use, is formed for the most part of metallic tubes, and as its principal parts or components comprises: (1) a pair of similar upstanding end frames which are spaced an appreciable distance apart and are in the form of vertically extending side members and a plurality of vertically spaced cross members between the side ,members; (2) an inner pair of crossed diagonally extending braces which extend between the ends of the inner side members of the end frames; (3) an outer pair of crossed diagonally extending members which extend between the ends of the outer side members of the end frames; (4) connections whichextend between, and serve detachably to connect, the ends of the diagonally extending braces and the ends of the side members of the end frames and consist of (a) lugs which are connected to, and project laterally from, the ends of the side members of the end frames and embody upstanding stud-like elements in laterally spaced relation with the ends of the side members, and (b) vertically extending sleeves which are connected to the ends of the diagonally extending braces and are shaped and adapted to fit snugly around the upstanding stud-like elements on the laterally projecting lugs; and (5) ring-shaped elements which extend around, and are movably mounted on, the upper ends of the side members of the end frames and are adapted when moved into a certain position to lock the sleeves on the ends of the diagonally extending braces in connected relation with the upstanding studlike elements on the aforementioned laterally projecting lugs.

One object of the invention is to provide a scaffold which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed scaffolds of the aforementioned type and including that of copending United States patent application Serial No. 325,353, filed on December 11, 1952, and is characterized by the fact that the ring-shaped elements for releasably locking the vertically extending sleeves on the upstanding stud-like elements are of new and improved construction and operate in a novel manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scaffold of the last mentioned character and in which the ringshaped locking elements are positioned directly over the upper ends of the stud-like elements on the laterally projecting lugs, have associated therewith means whereby they are held against longitudinal sliding movement with respect to the ends of the side members of the end frames while at the same time they are permitted to rotate freely relatively to the end frame side members, have notches in their outer marginal or peripheral portions, and are adapted to be rotated back and forth between anunlocked position wherein the notches are in vertical alignment with the upstanding stud-like ele- Patented July s, 1958 ments and permit the vertically extending sleeves on the ends of the diagonally extending braces to be mounted on or removed from such elements, and a locked position wherein the notches are out of vertical alignment or registry with the stud-like elements and parts of their outer marginal or peripheral portions overlie the upper ends of the sleeves and thus prevent the sleeves from being disconnected or removed from said stud-like elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a scaffold of the last mentioned type and character and in which the means whereby the ring-shaped locking elements are held against vertical sliding movement with respect to the ends of the side members of the end frames while at the same time they are permitted to rotate freely relatively to the side members, consist of upper and lower pins which are connected to, and project radially outwards from, the ends of the side members of the end frames and are arranged in straddled relation with the ring-shaped locking elements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a scaffold that is of generally new and improved construction and is capable of being assembled and dismantled with facility and also produced at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present scaffold will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a partof this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan View showing in assembled form a scaffold embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the assembled scaffold;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective showing in detail the construction and design of the detachable connections that are illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and normally extend between the ends of the diagonally extending braces and the ends of the side members of the end frames, and also showing the construction and design of the ringshaped elements which serve as releasable locking means for the connections; and

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the parts that are shown or illustrated in Figure 4.

The scaffold which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is adapted for use in connection with building construction and other work and comprises a pair of unitary end frames 6, two pairs of cross diagonally extending braces 7, ring-shaped locking elements 8, an upper horizontally extending brace 9, and a lower horizontally extending brace 10. The end frames and the braces are preferably in the form of steel tubes in order that the scaffold as a whole is comparatively light in weight. It is contemplated that the scaffold will be assembled and dismantled at the site or place of use and that when the scaffold is not in use it will be stored in knocked down form.

The end frames 6 extend vertically and are spaced apart an appreciable distance. They are normally maintained in rigid spaced apart relation by the diagonally and horizontally extending braces as hereinafter described and consist of vertically extending side members 11, upper cross members 12, lower cross members 13 and intermediate cross members 14. The side members 11 of the end frames have open ends and are held in fixed or rigid spaced apart relation by the cross members 12, 13 and 14. The upper ends of the side members are provided with vertically extending rods 15. The lower'ends of these rods fit snugly within the upper ends of the side members 11 and are secured in place by horizontally extending bolts 16, and the upper ends of the rods are adapted, as shown in Figure 3, to fit within the lower ends of the side members of superjacent end frames. The upper cross members 12 extend horizontally and have the ends thereof welded to the upper extremities of the side members 11. The lower cross members 13 are disposed beneath, and in parallel relation with, the upper cross members and have their ends welded to the lower ends of the side members 11 at points v that are comparatively small distances above the lower end extremities of the side members, The intermediate cross members 14 are disposed between, and in parallel relation with, the upper and lower cross members and have their ends welded to the central portions of the side members 11. When the scaffold is in its assembled position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the cross members of the end frames 6 may be utilized to support horizontal planks or boards (not shown) as well understood in the art. The ends of the side members of the end frames 6 are provided with laterally projecting lugs 17. The inner sides of these lugs are provided with arcuate recesses 18 which are shaped conformably to, and receive, the adjacent portions of the ends of the side members of the end frames. Preferably the lugs 17 are fixedly secured in place by welding them to the ends of the side members 11. The upper portions of the lugs 17 are provided with integral upstanding stud-like elements 19 and these are tubular and form parts of the hereinafter described detachable connections between the diagonally and horizontally extending braces and the ends of the side members of the end frames. As best shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the tubular elements 19 are circular in cross section and are spaced a small distance away from the adjacent portion of the side members of the end frames. The upper end surfaces of the lugs 17 define upwardly facing shoulders 20 at the lower ends of the tubular elements 19. The lugs 17 On the upper ends of the side members 11 of the end frames 6 are preferably located a small distance beneath the upper cross members 12 and the lugs on the lower ends of the side members are preferably located a small distance beneath the lower cross members 13. The lugs 17 are disposed at right angles to the various cross members of the end frames and are arranged so that the lugs on the side members of one of the end frames face or extend in the direction of those on the side members of the other end frame when the two end frames are in proper or operative position.

When the scaffold is in its normal or assembled position one pair of crossed diagonally extending braces 7 extends between the inner side members of the two end frames and the other pair of crossed diagonally extending braces extends between the outer side members. The ends of the diagonally extending braces 7 are provided with vertically extending cylindrical sleeves 21 which are adapted to fit snugly around the upstanding tubular elements 19. These sleeves are preferably welded to the ends of the diagonally extending braces 7 and are substantially the same in height as the tubular elements 19 (see Figures 4 and 5). In assembling the scaffold the sleeves are positioned above the tubular elements 19 and then shifted downwards into encircling and laterally interlocked relation with the elements. The sleeves 21 together with the tubular elements 19 constitute simple and readily detachable connections between the ends of the crossed diagonally extending braces 7 and the ends of the side members 11 of the end frames 6. When the sleeves are in their operative or connected position the lower ends thereof rest directly on the shoulders 20 at the upper ends of the lugs 17.

The ring-shaped locking elements 8 of the scaffold extend closely around the upper ends of the side members 11 of the end frames 6 and are positioned directly above the upper ends of the tubular stud-like elements 19 on the laterally projecting lugs 17. They are formed of steel or any other suitable rigid material and are of such external diameter that their outer marginal or peripheral portions overhang or overlie the portions of the upper ends of the stud-like elements that are nearest or directly opposite to the upper ends of the end frame side members 11. Associated with the ring-shaped locking elements 8 are upper pins 22 and lower pins 23 which are connected to, and extend radially outwards from, the ends of the side members 11, are arranged in closely straddled relation with the elements 8, and serve to prevent vertical sliding movement of the locking elements relatively to the ends of the side members while at the same time permitting the elements to rotate freely relatively to the ends of the side members 11. The inner ends of the upper and lower pins 22 and 23 are disposed within radially extending holes 24 in the ends of the end frame side members 11 and are preferably secured in place by so-called drive fits. The ringshaped locking elements 8 are provided in the outer marginal or peripheral portions thereof with arcuate notches 25 and are adapted to be rotated back and forth between an unlocked position wherein the notches 25 are in vertical alignment with the upstanding stud-like elements 19 and permit the vertically extending sleeves on the ends of the diagonally extending braces 7 to be mounted on or removed from said stud-like elements, and a locked position wherein the notches are out of vertical alignment or registry with the stud-like elements and parts of their outer marginal or peripheral portions overlie the upper ends of the sleeves and thus prevent the sleeves from being disconnected or removed from said stud-like elements (see Figure 4). As shown in the drawings, the arcuate notches 25 are of such size or so proportioned that when the ring-shaped locking elements are in their unlocked position, the vertically extending cylindrical sleeves 21 are permitted to be readily mounted on and removed from the stud-like elements 19. In connection with assembly of the scaffold the end frames 6 are manually or otherwise temporarily held in proper spaced apart relation and then the ring-shaped locking elements 8 are turned or rotated into their aforesaid unlocked position. Thereafter, the diagonally extending braces 7 are positioned between the ends of the side members 11 of the end frame 6 and are manipulated so that the vertically extending sleeves 21 at the ends thereof are positioned directly above and in registry or coaxial relation with the stud-like elements 19. After such manipulation of the diagonal braces 7, the sleeves 21 are shifted downwards into encircling relation with the elements 19 and until their lower ends rest on, and are supported by, the upwardly facing shoulders 20. As soon as the sleeves 21 are properly positioned with respect to the stud-like elements 19 the ring-shaped locking elements 8 are turned or rotated into their locked position wherein as previously pointed out they serve positively to lock or hold the sleeves 21 in place with respect to the stud-like elements. When it is desired to dismantle the scaffold, it is only necessary to turn the ring-shaped locking element 8 into their unlocked position wherein as previously pointed out the arcuate notches 25 are positioned in registry with the upper ends of the stud-like elements 19. As soon as the locking elements have been rotated into their unlocked position, the sleeves 21 on the ends of the diagonal braces 7 are free so that they may be shifted upwards out of connected relation with the stud-like elements.

The upper horizontally extending brace 8 and the lower horizontally extending brace 9 assist the crossed diagonally extending braces 7 in holding the end frames 6 in fixed spaced apart relation. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the upper brace 8 extends between the upper end of the outer side member of one of the end frames and the upper end of the inner side member of the other end frame, and the lower brace 9 extends between the lower end of the inner side member of the one end frame and the lower end of the outer side member of the other end frame. The ends of the braces 8 and 9 are provided with vertically extending depending pins 26. The upper ends of these pins are Welded to the ends of the horizontally extending braces and the lower ends of the pins are adapted when the horizontally extending braces are in their operative position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings to fit within the subjacent tubular elements 19 (see Figures 4 and 5). The pins 26, together with their respective tubular studlike elements 19, constitute readily detachable connections for connecting the horizontally extending braces to certain ends of the side members 11 of the end frames 6. In connection with assembly of the scaffold the pins 26 are positioned above the proper tubular elements and are then shifted downwards so as to interlock them with such elements. The ring-shaped locking elements 8 due to their particular external diameter do not interfere With insertion and removal of the lower ends of the pin 26 with respect to their respective stud-like elements 19.

It is contemplated that the ends of the side members 11 of the end frames 6 will have additional lugs and upstanding tubular stud-like elements in diametrically opposite relation with the lugs 17 and the elements 19 in order that they may be connected to adjoining diagonally and horizontally extending braces when the scaffold is used to form a complete scaffolding.

The herein described scaffold is essentially simple in construction and due to the particular design and mode of operation of the ring-shaped locking elements 8 may be readily and quickly assembled and dismantled. The general design and construction of the scaffold as a whole permits the scaffold to be produced at a comparatively low cost.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since they may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a scaffold comprising a pair of spaced apart upstanding unitary end frames consisting of vertically extending side members and horizontally extending cross members between the side members and having on the ends of the side members thereof fixedly mounted laterally projecting lugs provided with rigidly connected upstanding stud-like elements in spaced relation with the adjacent portions of the side members, braces extending between the ends of the side members of the end frames and having at the ends thereof fixedly connected vertically extending sleeves shaped to fit snugly around the stud-like elements, adapted to be connected to the elements by positioning them thereabove and then shifting them downwards into encircling relation with said elements, and further adapted to be disconnected from the stud-like elements by shifting them upwards out of encircling relation therewith, and ring-shaped locking elements extending loosely around the ends of the end frame side members, positioned directly above the upper ends of the stud-like elements, having associated therewith means whereby they are held against vertical sliding movement with respect to the ends of the end frame side members while at the same time they are permitted to rotate freely back and forth relatively to said side members, embodying notches in their outer marginal portions, and adapted to be rotated back and forth between an unlocked position wherein the notches are in vertical alignment with the stud-like elements to permit the sleeves on the ends of the braces to be mounted on or removed from said stud-like elements and a locked position wherein the notches are out of vertical alignment with the stud-like elements with parts of their said outer marginal portions overlying the upper ends of the sleeves around the stud-like elements to prevent said sleeves from being disconnected from said stud-like elements, and braces extending between the end frames for maintaining the latter in their spaced apart relationship.

2. A scaffold according to claim 1 and in which the means whereby the ring-shaped locking elements are held against vertical sliding movement with respect to the ends of the end frame side members while at the same time they are permitted to rotate freely back and forth relatively to the side members, consist of upper and lower horizontally extending pins which are fixedly connected to, and extend radially outwards from, the ends of the side members of the end frames and are arranged in straddled relation With said ring-shaped locking elements.

3. A scaffold according to claim 1 in which the upstanding stud-like elements are tubular and are provided with internal cylindrical bores for removable reception therein of respective anchoring pins provided on certain structural members of the scaffold and in which the overall radial extent of the ring-shaped locking elements is less than the radial distance of said cylindrical bores from the axes of said vertically extending side members whereby, in any position of said ring-shaped locking elements said bores remain unobstructed for reception therein of said anchoring pins.

4. A scaffold according to claim 1 in which the upstanding stud-like elements are tubular and are provided with internal bores, said horizontally extending braces having vertically disposed anchoring pins at their opposite ends designed for removable reception in said cylindrical bores, the radial extent of the ring-shaped locking elements being less than the radial distance of said bores from the axes of said vertically extending side members whereby, in any position of said ring-shaped locking elements, said bores remain unobstructed for reception therein of said anchoring pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 574,463 Tisch Jan. 5, 1897 1,272,860 Saindon July 16, 1918 2,613,114 Hagan Oct. 7, 1952 2,720,430 Meng et al Oct. 11, 1955 2,765,200 Moyer Oct. 2, 1956

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