Mason's scaffold

• US 5,145,032 A
• Filed: 11/13/1990
• Issued: 09/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safway Steel Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Figgie International, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Foseid, Peter T., Puccinelli, Joseph S., Karlsen, Stig
• Primary Examiner(s): Foss, J. Franklin
• Application Number:
  US07/613,342
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 182/142, 182/146, 182/148, 182/141, 182/143, 182/132, 14/69.5
• US Class Current: 182/142
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2005/125 Roof for scaffolds, e.g. extending to the adjacent building
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/30 suspended by flexible supporting elements, e.g. cables
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 5/12 Canopies safety or protective measures preventing damage to building parts or finishing work during construction E04G21/24
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 7/28 Clips or connections for securing boards brackets E04G5/06 ; scaffolds comprising special means for supporting or forming platforms, platforms E04G1/15; scaffold boards or planks E04G5/08

Abstract

Standard platforms are integrated into a mason'"'"'s scaffold to reduce manufacturing and assembly costs. The standard platforms having hooks on both ends. The hooks are supported on lower horizontal members of respective rectangular frames. Platform fasteners are secured to each lower horizontal member with the standard platform hooks therebetween, thereby retaining the standard platforms to the frames to form a working deck. Each platform fastener comprises a metal sheet to which is welded an L-shaped bar that engages a hole in the frame lower horizontal member. A pin slides within the metal sheet and cooperates with the bar to positively secure the platform fastener to the frame lower horizontal member. Similar standard platforms and platform fasteners are assembled to upper horizontal members of the frames to form a protective canopy. Hatches with selectively openable doors may be used for some sections of the canopy. The present invention further comprises fairleads for guiding the cables from which the mason'"'"'s scaffold is suspended from a building or the like.

Claims

1. A mason'"'"'s scaffold suspendable from a building by a plurality of cables comprising:

a. at least two frames, each frame having a pair of vertical members and upper and lower horizontal members extending between and joined to the vertical members to form a generally rectangular frame;

b. at least one standard platform extending between the frames, the standard platform having hooks on the opposite ends thereof that rest on and are supported by the lower horizontal members of the respective frames to thereby create a deck between the frames; and

c. at least two platform fasteners overlying and being unsecured to portions of the standard platform deck adjacent the hooks and overlying and being removably secured to respective frame lower horizontal members with the hooks of the standard platform between the platform fastener and the frame lower horizontal members,

so that the standard platforms are positively retained to the frames by the platform fasteners.

2. A mason'"'"'s scaffold suspendable from a building by a plurality of cables comprising:

a. at least two frames, each frame having a pair of vertical members and upper and lower horizontal members extending between and joined to the vertical members to form a generally rectangular frame, the lower horizontal member of each frame being comprised of a vertically oriented plate extending between and joined to the vertical frame members;

b. at least one standard platform extending between the fames, the standard platform having hooks on the opposite ends thereof that rest on and are supported by the lower horizontal members of the respective frames to thereby create a deck between the frames, wherein the hooks of the standard platform rest on and are supported by the vertical plate of the lower horizontal member; and

c. at least two platform fasteners overlying and being secured to respective frame lower horizontal members with the hooks of the standard platform therebetween, wherein each platform fastener comprises;

i. a metal sheet that rests on the standard platform and that overlies the standard platform hooks, the metal sheet having a top surface and an undersurface;

ii. bar means joined to the metal sheet undersurface for cooperating with an associated frame lower horizontal member to partially secure the platform fastener to the frame; and

iii. pin means slidable within the metal sheet for cooperating with the bar means to completely secure the platform fastener to the frame,

so that the standard platforms are positively retained to the frames by the platform fasteners, and so that securing the platform fastener to the frame also positively retains the standard platform to the frame.

3. A mason'"'"'s scaffold suspendable from a building by a plurality of cables comprising:

a. at least two frames, each frame having a pair of vertical members and upper and lower horizontal members extending between and joined to the vertical members to form a generally rectangular frame, the lower horizontal member of each frame being comprised of a vertically oriented plate extending between and joined to the vertical frame members, wherein

the vertically oriented plate of each lower horizontal member defines at least one hole therethrough;

b. at least one standard platform extending between the frames, the standard platform having hooks on the opposite end thereof that rest on and are supported by the lower horizontal members of the respective frames to thereby create a deck between the frames, wherein the hooks of the standard platform rest on and are supported by the vertical plate of the lower horizontal member; and

c. at least two platforms fasteners overlying and being secured to respective frame lower horizontal members with the hooks of the standard platform therebetween, wherein the platform fastener comprises;

i. a metal sheet that overlies an associated frame lower horizontal member and the standard platform hooks supported thereon;

ii. at least one generally L-shaped bar joined to the metal sheet and having a free leg that is insertable within the hole in the lower horizontal member vertical plate; and

iii. at least one pin slidable within the metal sheet and spaced from the bar to cooperate therewith to positively secure the platform fastener to the lower horizontal member vertical plate and thereby positively retain the standard platform to the frame,

so that the standard platforms are positively retained to the frames by the platform fasteners.

4. A mason'"'"'s scaffold suspendable from a building by a plurality of cables comprising:

a. at least two frames, each frame having a pair of vertical members and upper and lower horizontal members extendinng between and joined to the vertical members to form a generally rectangular frame;

b. at least one standard platform extending between the frames, the standard platform having hooks on the opposite ends thereof that rest on and are supported by the lower horizontal members of the respective frames to thereby create a deck between the frames;

c. at least two platform fasteners overlying and being secured to respective frame lower horizontal members with the hooks of the standard platform therebetween; and

d. fairlead means for quiding the cables in the upper horizontal members of the respective frames, wherein the fairlead means comprises;

i. at least one tube incorporated into each frame upper horizontal member;

ii. a block associated with each tube, each block having a first hole therethrough sized to receive a cable; and

iii. fastening means for fastening the blocks inside the respective upper horizontal member tubes,

so that the standard platforms are positively retained to the frames by the platform fasteners, and so that the first holes in the block provide respective fairleads for the cables.

5. A mason'"'"'scaffold suspendable from a building by a plurality of cables comprising:

a. at least two frames, each frame having a pair of vertical members and upper and lower horizontal members extending between and joined to the vertical members to forma generally rectangular frame;

b. at least one standard platform extending between the frames, the standard platform having hooks on the opposite ends thereof that rest on and are supported by the lower horizontal members of the respective frames to thereby create a deck between the frames;

c. at least two platform fasteners overlying and being secured to respective frame lower horizontal members with the hooks of the standard platform therebetween; and

d. hatch means assembled to the frames over the deck for being selectively closed to provide protection to persons on the deck and opened to enable loading of materials and equipment onto the deck from above,

so that the standard platforms are positively retained to the frames by the platform fasteners.

6. The mason'"'"'s scaffold of claim 5 wherein the hatch means comprises:

a. a pair of end supports assembled to the respective upper horizontal members of two frames; and

b. at least one door extending between and pivotally joined to the end supports, the doors being selectively closeable and openable to thereby provide protection and access, respectively, to the deck below.

7. A mason'"'"'s scaffold suspendable from a building by a plurality of cables comprising:

a. at least two frames, each frame having a pair of vertical members and upper and lower horizontal members extending between and joined to the vertical members to form a generally rectangular frame, wherein

each frame upper horizontal memeber is comprised of a vertically oriented plate extending between and joined to the vertical frame members;

b. at least one standard platform extending between the frames, the standard platform having hooks on the opposite ends thereof that rest on and are supported by the lower horizontal members of the respective frames to thereby create a deck between the frames, wherein the hooks of a standard platform rest on and are supported by the upper horizontal member vertical plates; and

c. at least two platform fasteners overlying and being secured to respective frame lower horizontal members with the hooks of the standard platform therebetween, wherein a platform fastener overlies and is secured to each upper horizontal member with the standard platform hooks therebetween to thereby retain the standard platform to the upper horizontal member and provide a protective canopy over the deck,

so that the standard platforms are positively retained to the frames by the platform fasteners.

8. A mason'"'"'s scaffold comprising:

a. a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a pair of spaced vertical members and spaced upper and lower horizontal members joined to the vertical members to form a generally planar four-sided frame;

b. a plurality of elongated standard platforms, each standard platform having opposed ends with hooks thereon, the hooks of each end resting on and being supported by the lower horizontal member of a respective frame to thereby form a longitudinally extending deck between the frames;

c. fastener means overlying a portion of the standard platforms and being unsecured thereto for removably securing to the lower horizontal member of each frame to retain the standard platforms to their respective supporting frames; and

d. cable means for suspending the frames from a building or the like.

12. The mason'"'"'s scaffold of claim 8 further comprising:

a. a plurality of second elongated standard platforms, each second standard platform having opposed ends with hooks thereon, the hooks of each end resting on and being supported by the upper horizontal member of a respective frame to thereby form a longitudinally extending canopy over the deck; and

b. second fastener means overlying a portion of the standard platforms and being unsecured thereto for removably securing to the upper horizontal member of each frame to retain the standard platforms to their respective frames.

9. A mason'"'"'s scaffold comprising:

a. a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a pair of spaced vertical members and spaced upper and lower horizontal members joined to the vertical members to form a generally planar four-sided frame;

b. a plurality of elongated standard platforms, each standard platform having opposed ends with hooks thereon, the hooks of each end resting on and being supported by the lower horizontal member of a respective frame to thereby form a longitudinally extending deck between the frames;

c. fastener means secured to the lower horizontal member of each frame for retaining the standard platforms to their respective supporting frames, wherein the fastener means comprises;

i. a metal sheet overlying the frame lower horizontal member with the hooks of the standard platform supported on the lower horizontal member therebetween;

ii. bar means joined to the metal sheet for engaging the underlying lower horizontal member; and

iii. pin means slidable within the metal sheet for cooperating with the bar means to releasably positively secure the metal sheet to the underlying frame lower horizontal member and thereby positively retain the standard platforms to the frame; and

d. cable means for suspending the frames from a building or the like.

10. A mason'"'"'s scaffold comprising:

a. a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a pair of spaced vertical members and spaced upper and lower horizontal members joined to the vertical members to form a generally planar four-sided frame, the lower horizontal member of each frame being comprised of a vertically oriented plate, wherein;

the vertically oriented plate of each lower horizontal member defines at least one hole therethrough;

b. a plurality of elongated standard platforms, each standard platform having opposed ends with hooks thereon, the hooks of each end resting on and being supported by the lower horizontal member of a respective frame to thereby form a longitudinally extending deck between the frames, the hooks of the standard platforms resting on and being supported by the vertical plates of the respective frame lower horizontal members;

c. fastener means secured to the lower horizontal member of each frame for retaining the standard platforms to their respective supporting frames, wherein the fastener means comprises;

i. a metal sheet overlying the lower horizontal member with the standard platform hooks supported by the lower horizontal member therebetween;

ii. at least one L-shaped bar joined to the metal sheet and having a free leg that is received in the hole in the lower horizontal frame member and vertical plate; and

iii. pin means slidable within the metal sheet for cooperating with the L-shaped bar to positively secure the platform fastener to the frame and thereby positively retain the standard platforms to the frame; and

d. cable means for suspending the frames from a building or the like.

11. A mason'"'"'s scaffold comprising:

a. a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a pair of spaced vertical members and spaced upper and lower horizontal members joined to the vertical members to form a generally planar four-sided frame;

b. a plurality of elongated standard platforms, each standard platform having opposed ends with hooks thereon, the hooks of each end resting on and being supported by the lower horizontal member of a respective frame to thereby form a longitudinally extending deck between the frames;

c. fastener means secured to the lower horizontal member of each frame for retaining the standard platforms to their respective supporting frames; and

d. cable means for suspending the frames from a building or the like, wherein;

i. the cable means comprises at least one cable having a first end tied to the building or the like and a second end winched on the frame for raising and lowering the mason'"'"'s scaffold along the building or the like; and

ii. each frame further comprises fairlead means for guiding the associated cable as the mason'"'"'s scaffold is winched along the building or the like,

wherein the fairlead means comprises;

a tube incorporated into the frame upper horizontal member;

a block having a hole therethrough for slidingly receiving the cable, the block being sized to fit within the tube in the frame upper horizontal member; and

means for fastening the block inside the upper horizontal member tube,

so that the cable is readily assembled to the frame and can slide through and be guided within the block.

13. A mason'"'"'s scaffold comprising:

a. a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a pair of spaced vertical members and spaced upper and lower horizontal members joined to the vertical members to form a generally planar four-sided frame;

b. a plurality of elongated standard platforms, each standard platform having opposed ends with hooks thereon, the hooks of each end resting on and being supported by the lower horizontal member of a respective frame to thereby form a longitudinally extending deck between the frames;

c. fastener means secured to the lower horizontal member of each frame for retaining the standard platforms to their respective supporting frames;

d. cable means for suspending the frames from a building or the like;

e. a plurality of second elongated standard platforms, each second standard platform having opposed ends with hooks thereon, the hooks of each end resting on and being supported by the horizontal member of a respective frame to thereby form a longitudinally extending canopy over the deck; and

f. second fastener means secured to the upper horizontal member of each frame for retaining the standard platforms to their respective frames, wherein the second fastener means comprises;

i. a metal sheet overlying the upper horizontal member with the hooks of the second standard platforms supported on the upper horizontal member therebetween, the metal sheet having at least one slot therein for passage of the cable means;

ii. bar means joined to the metal sheet for extending along the first side of and engaging the frame upper horizontal member vertical plate; and

iii. pin means slidingly received within the metal sheet and extending along the second side of the frame upper horizontal member vertical plate for cooperating with the bar means to releasably positively secure the metal sheet to the underlying upper horizontal member and thereby positively retain the second standard platforms to the frame.

14. A mason'"'"'s scaffold comprising:

a. a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a pair of spaced vertical members and spaced upper and lower horizontal members joined to the vertical members to form a generally planar four-sided frame;

b. a plurality of elongated standard platforms, ech standard platform having opposed ends with hooks thereon, the hooks of each end resting on and being supported by the lower horizontal member of a respective frame to thereby form a longitudinally extending deck between the frames;

c. fastener means secured to the lower horizontal member of each frame for retaining the standard platforms to their respective supporting frames;

d. cable means for suspending the frames from a building or the like; and

e. hatch means assembled to and extending between at least two frames for selectively providing overhead protection for the deck and enabling items to be loaded on the deck from above.

15. The mason'"'"'s scaffold of claim 14 wherein the hatch means comprises:

a. an end support assembled to the respective upper horizontal members of two adjacent frames; and

b. door means pivotally joined between the end supports for selectively closing to provide overhead protection for the deck and opening for providing access to the deck from above the scaffold.

16. A platform fastener comprising:

a. an elongated metal sheet;

b. at least one generally L-shaped bar having a fixed leg welded to the metal sheet and a free leg; and

c. a pin associated with the bar and being slidable within the metal sheet and being generally parallel to the bar fixed leg, the pin being located at a predetermined distance from the bar such that the bar fixed leg and the pin lie on opposite sides of a selected member and the bar free leg engages a hole in the selected member to releasably secure the platform fastener to the selected member.

17. In combination with an elongated member having opposed fist and second sides with at least one hole extending between the first and second sides, a platform fastener comprising:

a. a metal sheet overlying the member;

b. at least one generally L-shaped bar having a first leg welded to the metal sheet and located proximate the member first side, the bar having a free leg that is received in the hole in the member; and

c. a pin slidable received in the metal sheet and located proximate the member second side, the pin cooperating with the bar to positively secure the platform fastener to the member.

18. A method of assembling a mason'"'"'s scaffold comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least two frames having respective upper and lower horizontal members and vertical members, each upper and lower horizontal member having at least one hole therein;

b. supporting the hooks on the opposed ends of at least one standard platform on the lower horizontal members of respective frames;

c. overlying the lower horizontal member of each frame with a respective platform fastener with the associated standard platform hooks therebetween, wherein the step of overlying the lower horizontal member of each frame with a platform fastener comprises the step of providing a platform fastener having a metal sheet with a top side and an underside, a generally L-shaped bar welded to the metal sheet underside, and a pin slidable within the metal sheet between the top side and the underside and generally parallel to the bar; and

d. securing the platform fasteners to the respective frame lower horizontal members to thereby retain the standard platforms to the frames and create a deck.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of securing the platform fasteners to the respective frame lower horizontal members comprises the steps of:

a. placing a platform fastener metal sheet on the standard platform with the bar proximate one side of the associated frame lower horizontal member;

b. sliding the pin to a first position such that the pin is on the top side of the metal sheet;

c. engaging the bar free leg with the hole in the frame lower horizontal member; and

d. sliding the pin to a second position on the underside of the metal sheet and on the opposite side of the frame lower horizontal member at the bar to thereby secure the platform fastener to the frame lower horizontal member.

20. A method of assembling a mason'"'"'s scaffold comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least two frames having respective upper and lower horizontal members and vertical members, each upper and lower horizontal member having at least one hole therein;

b. supporting the hooks on the opposed ends of at least one standard platform on the lower horizontal members of respective frames;

c. overlying the lower horizontal member of each frame with a respective platform fastener with the associated standard platform hooks therebetween;

d. securing the platform fasteners to the respective frame lower horizontal members to thereby retain the standard platforms to the frames and create a deck;

e. supporting the hooks on the opposed ends of at least one standard platform of the upper horizontal members of respective frames;

f. overlying the upper horizontal members of the frames with respective platform fasteners with the associated standard platform hooks therebetween; and

g. securing the platform fasteners to the respective frame upper horizontal members to thereby retain the standard platforms to the frames and create a protective canopy for the deck.

21. A method of assembling a mason'"'"'s scaffold comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least two frames having respective upper and lower horizontal members and vertical members, each upper and lower horizontal member having at least one hole therein;

b. supporting the hooks on the opposed ends of at least one standard platform on the lower horizontal members of respective frames;

c. overlying the lower horizontal member of each frame with a respective platform fastener with the associated standard platform hooks therebetween;

d. securing the platform fasteners to the respective frame lower horizontal members to thereby retain the standard platforms to the frames and create a deck;

e. providing a hatch having a pair of spaced supports assembled to the upper horizontal members of respective frames and at least one door pivotally mounted to the supports; and

f. selectively closing the hatch door to thereby form a protective canopy over the deck and opening the hatch door to thereby enable material and equipment to be loaded onto the deck from above.