CABLE-PANEL CONNECTOR FOR BRIDGE PLATFORM OR OTHER SCAFFOLDING

• US 20110085854A1
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Kristen Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Paul Kristen Incorporated
• Inventors: Apostolopoulos, Paul, Passucci, Davy E., Apostolopoulos, Lambros
• Granted Patent: US 9,309,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/399
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 19/106 Movable inspection or maintenance platforms, e.g. travelling scaffolding or vehicles specially designed to provide access to the undersides of bridges lifting devices for movable platforms on vehicles in general B66F11/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/14 using wedges
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/71 Blocking disengagement of catches or keys
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 41/002 Measures against loss of bolts, nuts or pins devices for fastening nuts to surfaces F16B37/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/008 by a rotating or sliding and rotating movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0084 characterised by particular locking means
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/123 Auxiliary fasteners specially designed for this purpose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32155 Bearing component clamped to plate or side, e.g., bolted, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7188 Rod received in open channel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/76 having a cam, wedge, or tapered portion

Abstract

A connector for covering an opening in and connecting a scaffolding panel to an underlying cable. One plate has a portion pivotally attached to another plate for movement within a slot thereof, an arcuate portion to cradle the cable and extend back through a slot in the other plate for securing, and a neck therebetween which suspends the arcuate portion at a distance below the other plate to ease receiving the cable. The plates alternatively abut. Alternatively, the plates are hingedly joined with one having an arcuate cable-receiving portion which extends back through a slot in the other plate for securing with a wedge which is inseparable from the plates.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting at least one panel to an underlying cable, the connector comprising a first part having slot means therein and a second part including a first portion, said first part and said first portion in combination for overlying an opening in the at least one panel, said second part further comprising a generally arcuate second portion having a terminal end portion and sized and shaped for extending below the at least one panel and for passing of said terminal end portion through said slot means whereby said second part can be manipulated to receive the cable within said generally arcuate second portion and to then pass said terminal end portion through said slot means to define a closed position, structure for retaining said terminal end portion in the closed position, and a neck portion attaching said first and second portions, said neck portion extending from said first portion in a direction length-wise of said first portion and sized to pass downwardly through said slot means during manipulation of said second part for receiving the cable.

2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said first and second parts are plates whose planes are normal to each other.

3. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said second portion is a plate which has a notch extending into one end portion thereof, an extension portion extends from said neck portion and is received in said notch, said neck, extension, and second portions are generally rod-shaped, and said neck and extension portions have a diameter which is greater than a thickness of said plate and are disposed partially below said plate, and said neck portion lies within said slot means when the connector is in the closed position.

4. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said neck portion has a length of up to about 1 inch.

5. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said retaining structure includes threads on said terminal end portion for receiving a nut.

6. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said first and second parts are inseparable.

7. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said first and second parts and said retaining structure are inseparable.

8. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said second part is a plate which is at least partially received in said slot means, said second part pivotally attached to said first part thereby allowing rotation of the second part about the pivotal attachment and defining said first and neck portions on opposite sides respectively of the pivotal attachment.

9. A connector consisting essentially of a plurality of parts all of which are inseparable, and means for forming a detachable attachment between at least two of said inseparable parts for connecting a panel to a supporting cable.

10. A connector according to claim 9 wherein a first of said plurality of parts comprises a first plate sized for at least partially overlying an opening in the panel and having slot means therein, wherein a second of said plurality of parts comprises a second plate which is at least partially received in said slot means and which has first and second portions, said second portion shaped to extend downwardly from said slot means then upwardly through said slot means to define a closed position retaining the cable beneath said first plate, structure for retaining said second portion in said closed position, wherein said second plate is pivotally attached to said first plate whereby to effect movement of said second portion to and from said closed position, and said means for forming a detachable attachment comprises structure for detachably attaching said second portion to said first plate for retaining said second portion in said closed position.

11. A connector according to claim 10 wherein said second plate further has a neck portion connecting said first and second portions, wherein the pivotal attachment defines said first and neck portions on opposite sides thereof, said neck portion being passable through said slot means as said second plate is pivoted to suspend said second portion at a distance below the panel during manipulation of said second plate to receive the cable.

12. A connector comprising a first plate having slot means therein, a second plate at least partially received in said slot means and pivotally attached to said first plate and having first and second portions, said second portion shaped and sized to extend away from said first plate then toward said first plate and through said slot means to define a closed position, and structure for detachably attaching said second portion to said first plate to lock said second portion in said closed position.

13. A connector according to claim 12 wherein said second plate further has a neck portion connecting said first and second portions, wherein the pivotal attachment defines said first and neck portions on opposite sides thereof, said neck portion being passable through said slot means as said second plate is pivoted to lower said second portion during manipulation thereof to said closed position.

14. A connector according to claim 12 wherein said first plate is sized for overlying an opening in a panel and wherein said second portion is sized and shaped to receive a cable between said second portion and the panel for connecting the panel to the cable.

15. A connector according to claim 12 wherein said detachably attaching structure comprises a plurality of spaced grooves in a terminal end portion of said second portion and structure connected to said first plate and adapted to lockingly mate with said grooves.

16. A connector according to claim 15 wherein said mating structure comprises an elongate member sized to be receivable in said grooves, said elongate member positioned for movement in an inclined slot in a direction away from said terminal end portion as said terminal end portion is pushed through said slot means whereby to effect settling of said elongate member lockingly in one of said grooves when said terminal end portion is released from being pushed.

17. A connector according to claim 15 wherein said detachably attaching structure comprises a gear wheel having teeth sized to be receivable in said grooves and a pin for locking the gear wheel position, wherein said pin is connected to one of said first and second plates to be inseparable therefrom or wherein said detachably attaching structure comprises a wedge sized to be receivable in said grooves and connected to one of said first and second plates to be inseparable therefrom.

18. A connector comprising first and second hingedly joined plates, a member attached to said first plate and extending therefrom and having a free end portion, an aperture in said second plate for receiving said free end portion, and a wedge for retaining said free end portion in said second plate aperture.

19. A connector according to claim 18 further comprising structure for retaining said wedge inseparable from said first and second hingedly joined plates.

20. A connector according to claim 18 wherein said first and second hingedly joined plates are adapted to at least partially cover an opening in a panel and wherein said member attached to said first plate is adapted to cradle a cable passing below the panel to support the panel, whereby to attach the panel to the cable.