CA1268506A - Scaffold latch means - Google Patents
Scaffold latch meansInfo
- Publication number
- CA1268506A CA1268506A CA000581081A CA581081A CA1268506A CA 1268506 A CA1268506 A CA 1268506A CA 000581081 A CA000581081 A CA 000581081A CA 581081 A CA581081 A CA 581081A CA 1268506 A CA1268506 A CA 1268506A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pin
- blocking
- latch
- leg
- abutment
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
Inventor's Name: Eugone D. Ferry Atty's. Docket No.: EDP-4C
Scaffold Latch Means Abstract of the Disclosure:
A safety device for a scaffold latch, providing a movable abutment arm which is supported to have two positions, a first position providing a blocking abutment which blocks latch-releasing withdrawal movement of the latch pin, and a second position in which it permits such latch-release movement of the latch pin, the abutment arm being co-operative with the release lever of the latch assembly to cause its movement to its second position automatically as the latch-release lever is being actuated; and a spring automatically holds the safety's abutment arm in its first (pin-blocking) position unless the pin-release lever is being actuated.
Scaffold Latch Means Abstract of the Disclosure:
A safety device for a scaffold latch, providing a movable abutment arm which is supported to have two positions, a first position providing a blocking abutment which blocks latch-releasing withdrawal movement of the latch pin, and a second position in which it permits such latch-release movement of the latch pin, the abutment arm being co-operative with the release lever of the latch assembly to cause its movement to its second position automatically as the latch-release lever is being actuated; and a spring automatically holds the safety's abutment arm in its first (pin-blocking) position unless the pin-release lever is being actuated.
Description
. Saaffold_La~ç~_~çaa~
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~ RelatiQ~ ~Q e 4 9~5~ Q~
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The present application is related to pending Canadian Patent Applicat~on, Serial No. 527,19~, filed January 13, 1987 .. ~ entitled ~Adjustable Scaffold Latch Means", of the present ` inventor.
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~: Field and sackqround o~_the Inve~tion~
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... The present invention applies to scaffolds, particularly :
.: useful for adjustable-height scaffolds; and except for a novel safety feature for providing safety against inadvertent pin .: release, the invention relakes to adjustable-height scaffolds .... .
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such as set forth in this inventor's prior U.S. Patent 3,396,817 (1968) and the said application, especially as to a combination embodying a latch-release lever such as set forth in the application.
'',':, Such scaffolds have a spring-pressed pin to hold the platform to the scaffold legs, and the spring provides some . safety of maintaining latch-pin engagement.
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Further safety againsk inadvertent latah-pin withdrawal is provided by a screwthread feature, in that patent and application, of mating sarewthreads provided respectively .' .~
on the latch-pin assembly and on the support bushing for the latch pin; and, with that type of safety feature, latch-pin withdrawal is effectively blocked~
As noted ~urther herein, however, such a screw~thread safety feature has long been reali~ed to have certain disadvantages, particularly of improper use~ lack of proper maintenance, rough handling, etc., and~ in considerable contrast to that ~crewthread feature, the present invention provides novel concepts and components for autornatically blocking latch-release withdrawal of the latch pin except when the latch pin i8 being intentionally disengaged, yet automatically releases the latch pin for withdrawal from the scaffold leg when latch-disengagement ls being intentionally desired and achieved.
Thu6, great advantage over the prior art is provided, against whatever might be the cause or cause-contribution to inadvertent pin-release, such as a weak or broken spring, a forgetting by the user to engage the screwthread safety, accidental bumping or jarring, etc.; and much less maintenance need be provided, and much les~ safety instruction and procedural policies need be administered, etc.
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~ RelatiQ~ ~Q e 4 9~5~ Q~
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The present application is related to pending Canadian Patent Applicat~on, Serial No. 527,19~, filed January 13, 1987 .. ~ entitled ~Adjustable Scaffold Latch Means", of the present ` inventor.
... .
~: Field and sackqround o~_the Inve~tion~
: :::
:: :.
... The present invention applies to scaffolds, particularly :
.: useful for adjustable-height scaffolds; and except for a novel safety feature for providing safety against inadvertent pin .: release, the invention relakes to adjustable-height scaffolds .... .
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such as set forth in this inventor's prior U.S. Patent 3,396,817 (1968) and the said application, especially as to a combination embodying a latch-release lever such as set forth in the application.
'',':, Such scaffolds have a spring-pressed pin to hold the platform to the scaffold legs, and the spring provides some . safety of maintaining latch-pin engagement.
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Further safety againsk inadvertent latah-pin withdrawal is provided by a screwthread feature, in that patent and application, of mating sarewthreads provided respectively .' .~
on the latch-pin assembly and on the support bushing for the latch pin; and, with that type of safety feature, latch-pin withdrawal is effectively blocked~
As noted ~urther herein, however, such a screw~thread safety feature has long been reali~ed to have certain disadvantages, particularly of improper use~ lack of proper maintenance, rough handling, etc., and~ in considerable contrast to that ~crewthread feature, the present invention provides novel concepts and components for autornatically blocking latch-release withdrawal of the latch pin except when the latch pin i8 being intentionally disengaged, yet automatically releases the latch pin for withdrawal from the scaffold leg when latch-disengagement ls being intentionally desired and achieved.
Thu6, great advantage over the prior art is provided, against whatever might be the cause or cause-contribution to inadvertent pin-release, such as a weak or broken spring, a forgetting by the user to engage the screwthread safety, accidental bumping or jarring, etc.; and much less maintenance need be provided, and much les~ safety instruction and procedural policies need be administered, etc.
2.
Prior art structures and concepts do not ~rovide_the particular3 an c aracteristlc~ ere.ac eve :
In considering -the nature of the present sa~ety latch device and it~ co-operating components and concepts, and the inventive nature of the pre~ent concepts over prior art devices a~ known to the inventor, it i8 not only cGnceded but emphasized that there are prior art latch devices which provide some safety against accidental latch-disengagement~ an~ the closest known to the inventor are those set forth in his prior (196~) U.S. Patent No. 3,~96,817 which is also shown in presently-pending Canadian Patent Appl~cation No 527,192.
A130, presumably there are latches in other fields, such as door latches, which presumably have what could be referred to as a blocking abutment blocking against unintentional disengagement.
Howe~Jer, such attempts and devices fail to provide the present invention's ccncepts and specific advantage~, par-ticularly of the combination of various features and detail~ of the inven-tion, especially such detail~ as the combination including the blocking abutment 9 ita a~tomatic releaae by actuation of the pin-release lever, its support by the latch frame, and other incidents of the overall combination in a 3caffold.
Prior art structures and concepts do not ~rovide_the particular3 an c aracteristlc~ ere.ac eve :
In considering -the nature of the present sa~ety latch device and it~ co-operating components and concepts, and the inventive nature of the pre~ent concepts over prior art devices a~ known to the inventor, it i8 not only cGnceded but emphasized that there are prior art latch devices which provide some safety against accidental latch-disengagement~ an~ the closest known to the inventor are those set forth in his prior (196~) U.S. Patent No. 3,~96,817 which is also shown in presently-pending Canadian Patent Appl~cation No 527,192.
A130, presumably there are latches in other fields, such as door latches, which presumably have what could be referred to as a blocking abutment blocking against unintentional disengagement.
Howe~Jer, such attempts and devices fail to provide the present invention's ccncepts and specific advantage~, par-ticularly of the combination of various features and detail~ of the inven-tion, especially such detail~ as the combination including the blocking abutment 9 ita a~tomatic releaae by actuation of the pin-release lever, its support by the latch frame, and other incidents of the overall combination in a 3caffold.
3.
~506 Scaffold latches according to that Application have been and still are quite advantageous, particularly as to factors of ease of latch release as achieved by the release ].ever, the double set of leg-holes making for ease of assembly regardless of leg-set ori.entation, and the ease of maintenance as provided by the more full collaps~
ability of the non-cylindrical springs for the latch pins.
I;loreover, with scaffold latches according to that applica~ion , and those as long ago as in the early (1968) ~erry ~atent I~o. 3~396,817, the special advantage of high safety was achieved by the use of the safety lock provided by the engagement of the mating threads of the pin-disk and of the flxed bushing which serves as a pin-support; but this safety effect was achieved only when the user would take the effort of engaging those threads.
~ ;orkmen, however, often neglect even simple steps for the safety of themselves and other workmen or users, a fact of human nature which has been long known, and something which for many years has caused a special effort in many fields to make devices and work-areas of hopefully accident-proof or even foolproof nature, as users and makers of many types of equipment have become increasingly safety conscious :
as a result of experience, education, governmental enforcement, etc.
Yet, even though ~orkmen of course dislike to be injured, their tendency and apparent habit continues to often avoid safety features, even to try to bypass safety features, even though especially dangerous as to construction or repair work involving scaffolds.
~ nd as an addition to any tendency of hu~an nature to not bother to go to ~uch or zny effort to accept the safety of features which can provide real safety9 which indeed are a feature of those other Perry scaffolds since 1968, if used, those other Perry scaffolds have had a problem, ever since 1968, of the difficulty of engaging the safety threads if poor maintenance or rough handling has permitted the threads to become burred or otherwise hard to engage.
~ d as to other latches having locks or other safety features, none i6 know~ to the inventor as would be obviously useful in the particular field of ~caf~olds, surely without non-obvioue adaptation; and none are known to the inventor which would be responsive to the position or manipulation of the pin-release handle or lever.
5.
~;2~6 ~he present Inventi n, ~ummari~ed:
It is in contraat,against the background of such prior art, which i9 different in concept and particulars of components and feature~ of the overall combination, that the present ~afety latch device ic considered7 Especially providing advantage for scaffold use~ providing protection against inadvertent latch-pin release, the safety latch device compri~es a rele~se lever a~ in Canadi~n Applica~ion Ser. No, 527,192; but quite in contrast to the qafety feature of that Application and the afore~aid 1968 U.S. Patent of this in~entor, the present inventlon provide3 a movable abutment which is ~upported by the overall latch frame and abuttingly blocks pin-release movement of thelatch pln, but the blocking abutment i~
al~o provided to co-operate with the release lever 80 that actuation, will move the blocking abutment or arm to permit latch-release movement of the latch pin. Pin-blocking and pin-releaslng are both of automatlc nature.
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By the feature~ thus summarized, and particularly by them in their effect as a combination, and in novel combination with the prior latch features, and in contrast to the prior art known to the inventor and to what eYen by hindsight might be 6.
as~erted as suggestion~ from the prior art, the pre6ent invention provide~ an advantageou~ apparatus for achieving the goal of a novel and useful safety latch device which i6 automatic both in its pin-blocking and pin-release operativity.
Accordingly, although various separate concept~ and components of -the overall Bafe ty latch device are conceded and emphasized to have been known in the prior art, even the present inventor's own earlier Patent and Patent Application, and perhaps other prior art not known to thi~ inventor, nevertheless the ~rior art not haYing had the particular concepts and detail~ as here presented and a~ ahown a~ different from the prior art, even only a fair amount of realistic humility, to avoid considera~ion or this invention improperly by hind~ight, requires the concept3 here to be realistically viewed as inventiYe in their nature~
~rief descrip~tion of the Drawing6:
The above description of the novel and advantageous sa~ety device of the present invention iB of somewhat introductory and generali~ed form. More particular details, concepts, and feature~ are set forth in the following and more detailed description of an illu~trative embodiment, taken in conjunction 7.
~26~;06 with the accompanying drawings, which are of somewhat ~chematic and diagrammatic nature, for showing the inventive concepts of the present invention as are illustrated in this embodiment and shown applied to a ~caffold~
In the drawings, in which Fig. 1 i9 drawn to a very small scale~ and the other views are drawn generally to the same although considerably enlarged scale~
Flg. 1 is a front elevation view of a scaffold device provided with improved safety latch device~ of the present invention~ the view showing two of the sa~ety latch devlces;
and although the scaffold would preferably have two more of the latch devices, i.e., one for each of the two other legs which are hidden in thi6 view, those two other latch device~ are ~imilarly hidden in thie view, being directly behind the latch devices shown;
Figs. 2 and 3 are generally similar vertical cross-sectional views through one of the safety latch devices; and to illustrate by their contrast the operativity of the blocking arm o~ the inven~ion, the overall latch devices of these views of Fig3. 2 and 3 are purpo3ely drawn adjacent one another and at the same level on the paper, with pro~ection lines extending from each view toward the other to show reference of changed po~i-tion~ of the blocking arm feature in re~ponse to the user pulling on the latch-release le~er. More particularly:
Fig. 2 i8 a cross-sectional view through one of the safety latch devices, the devlce in this view showing the latch pin in latching position or condition, the release lever being in its re3ting poRition it has when not being pulled to intentionally achieve the latch'~ pin-release condition9 and illu~trating the 6afety feature of the blocking arm its safety position or condition in which it i~ blocking the latch pin from ~lippage, by any causatio~, out of latched conditio~ with respect to the respective scaffold leg;
Fig. 3, as a contrast to Fig. 2, ie cross-sectional view through the sa~ety latch, but in contras-t to Fig. 2 show~ the parts in their latch-released position or cordition achieved by an intentional pull on the release lever, as indicated by the curving indication-arrow, that action causing, as an incident to the movement of the release lever, a corresponding mo~ement of the blocker arm, as indicated by the downwardly-pointed indicator-arrow, the withdrawal of la~ch release movement of the latch pin being indicated by the leftwardly-pointed indicator-arrow~
Figs. 4-6, with Fig~ 4 and 5 being shown generally as taken by Section-plane 4,5 - 4,5 of Fig. 8, are vertical cross-sectional views of the safety latch device, all these views being such as would show the latch pin in transverae cross section (except that the sectional view o~ ~ig. 4 is not within the span of the latch pin), and, for further illustration of the construction and operativity of the blocking arm and it~
relation to the other componenta, ~igs. 4 and 5 are drawn adjacent one another and at the same level on the paper, with projec~tion lines extending from each view toward the other, similarly to that of Figa. 2 and 3, to show reference of changed po~itions o~ the blocking arm feature in its change ~rom blocking or safety condi-tion in Fig. 4 to its latch-released or non-blocking poaition in Fig. 5. More particularly:
10.
~ ig. 4 1~ a rearward-lo~kln2 vertical cro~s--~ectional ~iew, shown generally a~ taken by Section-line 4-4 of Figo 2 illustrating the blocker arm in raised or safety position of pin-blocking, and indicating by the chain line circle the location o~ abuttirlg engagement of the latch pin against the blocker arm when it i~ in safety (upraised) position;
Fig. 5 i9 a rearward-looking vertical cross-sectional Yiew 9 shown generally a~ take~ by Section-line5-5 of Fîg~ 3, illustrating the blocker arm in lowered position, and the latch pin being free of the blocker arm for permitting latch-pin-release or withdrawal movement of the latch pin;
Fig~ 6 is a outward-looking vertical cross-sectional view, shown generally as taken by Sect~on-line 6-6 of ~ig. 3, illustrating the i~ner or rearward-facing face o~ the release lever and it~ pivot body, Fig. 7 is a fragmental horizontal cross-~ectional view, shown generally as taken by Section-line 7 7 of Figs. 2,4, and 5, and by Section-plane 7-7-7-7 of Fig. 8, illustrating the blocker arm being slidably retained by a channel-like body bolted to the outer frame; and Fig~ 8 i~ a fragmental pictorial view, as another illu~tration of the blocking arm feature, of the blocking arm ~hown in full line~ in its safety-blocking poBition as to the latch pin~ preventing latch-release withdrawal movement o~ the latch pin, and with "double dot" chain lines indicating the lowered position of the blocker arm feature upon the camming-down actuation of the release lever as is indicated by the downwardly-pointing indicator-arrow, and the "single dot" chain line showing the location of abutting engagement of the latch-pin against the blocker arm when the blocker arm i9 in raised or safety position and the rèlea3e lever 1B in itq rest-position not being pulled to purposefully achieve latch-release, that abutting-engagement location, which i~ in line with the latch pin's movement-axis, being shown as being a location then free of the blocker arm when and because the blocker arm is then in it~ downwardly-pressed position (double-dot chairl line~) during latch-pin-release actuation of the release lever, and thu~ then permitting latch pin ~ravel in a ~ithdrawal movement through that engagement location to thus achleve latch-release, - ~go6 the Invention As shown in the.drawings, a scaffold device or unit 10 is ~ho~n provided with safe-ty latch devices 12 of the present invention, for as3uring a safely latched support of the scaffold~s horizontal working platform 14.
In thi~ detailed description of the illu6trative embodiment, although the present invention relates particularly to the latch'~
safety feature 16, the details and operativity of the safety feature 16 seem easiest to under3tand by a preliminary review of the overall scaf~old 10, with its latch devices 12, its working platform 14, and it~ vertical end-frames 18 at each end for ~upporting the platform 1~ at adjustable height as optionally selected by the user.
(Several of the features of the aforesaid Perry patent and application are shown here in a preferred embodiment, a~
background a~ well aa ~howing thelr inter-relation and co-operation of several of those prior device~' features with the novel sa~et~ feature 16 o~ thi~ present invention as applied to each latch 12.~
~ ach of the end-frames 18 of the ~caffolding 10 of the Perry pa-tent ,~nd application3 i8 ~how~ in ~ig. 1 a~ having a 13.
pair of vertical leg~ 20 shown of U-shape in cross-section, and held for stability in spaced rela-tion~hip by hori~ontal rod~
(not here ~hown) extending between the lega 20; and each leg 20 i~ shown as supplied at its upper end with an upright pin 22 for stacking a series of leg-frame~, and at its lower end with a receiver plate 24 having a hole therein to receive the shank-pin of a caster 26, or the pin 22 of an adjacent leg-frame of a stacked arrangement.
The working platform 14 o~ -the ~caf~olding 10 as here shown compri6es a pair o~ side-rails 28, and end-rails (not shown) all of downwardly open U-shape in cross-section, and secured together as by welding into a unitary frame; and aheeting 29 such aR of planking, tread-plate or plywood is ~uitably mounted thereon.
According to the support and adjustment concept~ of the Perry devices,the platform 14 is shown as carrying ad~acert each corner thereof a vertically-extending support 30, shown of U-~hape in cross-section, which open~ inwardly of the end-frame i~ embracing relation wlth itB associated end-frame leg 20. ~he support 30 i8 shown ac braced by a brace 31 extending from the platform 10 to a lower portion of the 3upport 30.
14.
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~ o each of the scaffold' 8 vertical ~upporta 30, the platform 14 of the ~caffolding 10 of those prior de~ices i8 shown secured, as by weld~ng 32, a releasable holding latch means ~entioned above as indicated generally by reference numeral 12 inwardly of the ~caffold end frames 18. The holding latch means 12 i8 shown as comprising a holding or latch pin such as a plunger 34 ~lidably carried for axial movement by an aligned hols 36 o~ a frame plate 38, and a hole 39 of the support 30~ whether the latch pin 34 is in leg-latched position (Fig. 2) or unlatched position (Fig. 3). (The latch-pin'~
supports inwardly of the scaf~old 10 are described below.) A6 6hown, the frame plate 38, which is the part of the overall latch 12 and welded at 32 to the vertical suppor-t 30,is shown as a part of an overall fr~ne member 40, show~ here as of a generally rectangular ~hape, whose rear or inner wall 42 provides the functions of indirectly supporting the latch-pin 34 and of indirectly bottoming the pin-spring 44 which achieves a latching function of the latch-pin 34 with the associated scaffold leg 20, a~ in Fig. 2.
The latch-pin 34 is shown having welded to it an abutment arm shown as a disk 46, of a diameter ~ignificantly larger than that of the pin 34, ~acilitating manual but lever~
assi~ted manipulation of the pin 34 as herein described as to the operativity of achieving latch-release,easily and safely.
Betwreen the outer vertical portion 42 (i.e., rearwardly or outwardly in the sense o~ being an outw æd portion o~ the overall latch assembly 12 a~ spaced from the leg 20, even though aB shown iA on an inner side of the leg 20 when the entirety of the scaffold i8 being considered) of the frame member 40 and the abutment disc 46 there is disposed the compression spring 44, the spring 44 being sleeved around or surrounding the pin 34; and the ends of the spring 44 bottom, respectively7 on disc 46 and indirectly against wall 42 of frame 40, as noted more particularly below.
- Co-operating with the pin 34 for latched support (Figo 2 ) of the platform 14, as in those prior devices, -khe end-frame legs 20 are provided with a vertical series of supporting abutments shown as hole~ 46, each being adapted to supportingly receive a holding pin 349 for achieving the latching effect which holds the desired height-position of the platform 14.
The scaffold legs 20 are of a ~quare cross-section, and, according to the cited Canadian Application Ser~ No. 5~7,192, ~ach of the legs 20 iB provided on both oppo~ite sides with the 16, series of optlo~ally-usable pin~receiving hole6 48; and thi~
double-3et helps ach~eve scaffold-erection or aqsembly easier, by making it a matter of indifference a~ to each ~et 18 of end-leg~ 20 ~hich side thereof i~ facing the plat~orm 14 during a~6embly o~ legs 20 and platform 14a ~ he latch effect of the latch~pins 34 in leg-holes 48 is such that only after full release o~ the pin 34,of -the latch 12 a~sociated with each of the two legs 20 at one end of the scaf~old, can the user raise or lower that end of the platform 14 to its desired height, while holding the pins 34 withdrawn from any of the holes 4~, against the bias of the spring 44 of latch-pin 34, by release means detailed below.
When the height of the platform 14 i3 approxima-tely correct, the user releases tho~e pin-discs of flange-arms 46 as detailed below; and when the pla-tform support 30 comeæ to the location at which the pin 34 i9 in registry with one of the leg-holes 487 the bias of ~pring 44 pusheq the pin 34 to a latched po~ition in a leg-hole 48, as in ~ig. 2, holding the desir0d height-adjustment, a~ in those prior devices.
The friction o~ -the pin 34 in its supporting holes makes pin~withdrawal difficult, e6pecial1y since the openings or holes 17.
-are desirably of small enough ~iæe a~ to provide good support for the pin 34. However~ according to the concepts of the cited Application, unlatching of the pin 34 is made easy and convenient, even though the ~eight or the platform 14 iB causing a tight frictional bind on the pin 34 by the components which touch it while it i~ in latching position; and the feature which provides advantageous means to achieve latch pin removal i~ a release lever designated in full by reference numeral 50.
~ he lever 50, in that Application, provides for releasing the latch means pin 34 by axial movement of the pin 34 in a direction oppo~ite to the direction the pin means 34 are biased by the spring-pressure means 44, thu~ providing means ~or releasing the co-operating mean6 of the pin 34 and leg-hole 48 from holding relation~hip, much easier than in the cited 1968 Perry patent.
I~ore specifically as to the lever means 50, pivot~l support mean~ 52, which extend through a central hole 52a in lever 50, movably ~upport the lever means 50 for engaging the abutment disc means 46 of the pin means 34, with the lever means 50 extending generally transversely of the ~xis of the pin means 34.
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The lever means 509 thus ~upported and as thus engaging the abu-tment means 46 of the pin mean~ 34, provides a conveniently squeezable and manually-actuatable force means for achieving release of the latch means pin 34 9 by a ~orce indicated by force-arrow 53 (Fig~ 3) which i8 m~nually applied at a location 54 spaced from the pin mean~ 34, that location 54 being the free end of the lever 50, which is easily grasped by the user, as a "one-hand" operation for release of -the pin 34 from leg-hole 48.
As shown, the support means 52 which supports the lever means 50 is itself operatively carried by the scaffold platform 14, as shown by being carried by frame member 38 of the support 30 carried by the platfo~m 14.
Advantage iB also provided by -the lever means 50 and the support m~ans 52 which support~ the lever meana 50 being such that the travel o~ the portion 54 of the lever means 50 receiving latch-releasing force 53, when the latch-releasing (Fig.
force 53 i9 applied to move the lever-portion 54 from the position the lever 50 i~ in when the pin means 34 i~ in its (Fig. 2~ latching engagement with leg-hole 48, iB more than the travel of the portion 56 of the lever means 50 which e~gage~ the 19.
~2~ 6 abutment means 46 of the pin means 34-during the latch-release or pin-withdrawal movement of the lever meana 50~ the ~upport 52 serving as a fulcrum of the lever 50 between it~ portions 54 and 56. (The lever portion 56 tFig. 6) i9 shown a~ of yoke-form, the yoke-arms 58 o~ which straddle the latch-pin 34.) Convenience of operative effect of the lever 50 is further provided by the mounting of the lever 50 such that it i~
squeezable, ire., a 'lone-hand'l (force 53~ operation in which the user reaches his thumb around the scaf~old leg 20 (and the platform-support 30) and his fingers around the lever portion 54. More particularly in thi~ regard, it will be noted that -the lever mean~ 50 and the support mear~s 52 supporting the lever means 50 are 6uch that the travel of the portion 54 of the lever means 50 receiving latch-relea6ing force 5~, when latch-releasing force i8 applied to the lever 50 by force 53 on lever-portion S4, from the po~ition of the lever 50 when the pin mean~ 34 is in latching engagement with leg-hole 48, iB in a direction (reference arrow 59, ~ig. 3) op~osite to that of the travel o~ the pin means 34 during release of the latch mean6 12 (reference arrow 59a, Fig. 3) in wi-thdrawal movement o~ the pin means 34; and7 further, the travel of the force-applied lever-portion 54 during release (arrow 59a, Fig. 3~ of the pin ~4 20.
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iB in direct~on (arrow 59~ toward the ~ertically extending leg 20 o~ the sc6ffoldi~g3 A further and advantageous feature of the scaf~olding 10 as shown in the drawings and per the cited Application Serial iio. 5~7,192 is the provision of the latch spring 44 to be provided to be of non-uniform diameter nature o~ it~ coils; and the nesting effect of the non-uniform diameter of coils of a spring 44 is seen to give high collapsibility or shortening of the spring 44 when compressed.
That extra shortening of the spring 44 is of particular advantage if and when it is desired to disas~emble the component~
o~ the latch assembly 12, such as to repair or replace an assewbly of latch-pin 34 and its collar disc ~6, such a6 ~ecause of the pin 34 or its di~c 46 having become unduly bent or o-therwi~e damaged; for with sufficient shortening of the spring 44 the latch-pin 34 may be moved rearwardly (away from the leg 20 even further than shown in ~ig. 3) far enou~h to be wholly withdrawn from the frame member 40,which is considerably farther than the routine-u~e retraction of the latch-pin 34.
With all that background, detail~ of the present lnvention of the safety feature 16 are now described as to the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings; and although the ~ 1 .
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saIety feature 1~ i~ used in the devices generally a~ per the c~ted Applicationg it co-operatsq with details of their latch devices 12 in an integrated combination to the significant extent herein spec~fied~
~ hat iE~7 the cafety feature 16 particularly co operate~
with several particular~ of tho~e prior latch device~ 129 most particularly with their latch-pins 34 and the releace lever 50 of the c~ted Appl~cation, but also to an extent with the scaf~old'~ support legs 20 and their abutment~ or holes 48 into which the latch pin ~4 extends under bias of spring 44 for supporting the ~upport 30 and the support plat~orm 14, and the latch's peripheral outer frame 40, and alRO it co-operates with the ~rior device~' functional operat~vity o~ the latch pin 34 being supported to be moYable i~to a~d between its platform-supporting positio~ (~ig. 2) a~d a withdrawn position (Fig~ ~) in which the latch~pi~ 34 ~ is caused by the release leYer 50 to be removed ~rom the leg-holes 4B to an abut~ent-release po~ition for permitting a change of relative positio~ of the scaffold's platform 14, As with the release levers 50 of the ci~ed Appilcation, the release le~er means 50 here has been roted as havi~g an actuator portio~ 54 ~or receivi~g manual ~orce 53, ~n~ an .,., ., ~ .
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actuated port~on 56 which by acting onto the pin-di~c 46 operatively engages the latch p.in 34 to cause its latch release movement (arrow 59a~ Fig. 3) against the bias o~ the pin~spring 44.
Now are ~pecified the details of the safety feature 16 itself, a~ follows:
According to the present invention, there i~ provided a movable control member generally identified by reference numeral 60, as shown (especially as in Fig. 8~ to be o~ a general "~" shape, its upright or vertical leg 62 provi~ing at it~ upper end 63 a pin-blocking means, and itB horizontal leg 64 providing an actuator means.
hs detailed below, in the form shown there are provided support means 66 which 6upport the control member 60 in and between two operative po~itions, ~hat i~ the support mean~ 66 ~upports the control member 60 in and between a first position (Figs. 2,4, and 8) in which its pin-blocking arm mean~ 63 i~ di~posed in the path or axi~ 68 of withdrawal movement of the latch pin 349 thu~ blocking the latch-releasing movement of the latch-pin 34 from moving from its leg-abutting poaition (Fig~ 2) of ~upport of the support 30 and platform 14, to the latch-pin 34'~
~5~
withdrawn posit~on (Fig~ 3) of release o~ the latch-pin 34 from leg-hole~ 48, and a ~econd position (Figs. 3 and 5) in which the control member' 8 pin-blocking means 63 is withdrawn from the pin-withdrawal axis or path 68, thus permi-tting the latch~pin ~4 to move to itq withdra~m position (~igo 3 ) 0 release of the pin 34 from the leg-holes 48.
Also as shown a control spring 70 i9 proYided, which biases the control me~ber 60 to its upper position (~ig8.
2 and 4~ in which its pin-blocking me~ns ~3 i9 in raised or pin-blocking position.
Release of that pin-blocking po~ition of latch-pin 34 i6 provided by the actuator means 64 o~ the control member 60 being ~orced (indicated by force arrow 72 of ~ig~ 8) to be moved in response to pin-releasing mo~ement (indicator arrow 74Of ~ig. 3 a~d space- indicating lines 76 of Figs7 2-5 and 8) of the control member 60 to move its pin-blocking means 63 to a lowered or withdrawn position (~igs. 3 and 5) in which the pin 34 is no longer blocked but is movable (i~dicator arrow 59a, Fig. 3) to its withdrawn (.leftward, ~ig. 3) position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg-hole 48.
24.
~2~i~35~
That lowering movement of the control member 60 i~ also shown diagrammatically by indlcator line 78 of ~ig. 4 and indicator line 80 of ~ig. 5~ which respectively show the upper edge 82 of the pin-blocking upper portion 63 of leg 62 of control member 60 being respectively above (~ig. 4) and below (Fig. 5) the axis 68 of latch pl~ 34, depending, as with indicator lines 76, upon whether the relea~e lever 50 is then being moved (arrow 59, ~ig. 3) to produce the force 72 (~ig. 8) to cause the movement 74 (~ig. 3) downwardly, o~ control 60 and its pin~
blocking portion 63.
~ hat unblocking of the pin 34 in ~ig. 3, in contrast to its blocking pocition of ~ig. 2 in which t~e pin 34 is blocked by the arm-abutment 63, i6 indicated in Fig. 3 by indicator line 80 a~ in Fig. 5.
It is to be noted in the .~orm shown that the only time the latch-pin 34 can move to its withdrawn (left, ~ig. 3) position sufficiently to release i-t~ abu-tment with the sca.~fold leg-hole 48 of its platform-support i~ whlle -the release lever means 50 is being actuated (indicator arrow 59 in Fig, 3) to cause pin-withdrawal thrust 59a upon the latch-pi~ 34 by force 53 applied to the actuator por-tion 54 of the release lever mean~ 50.
, 25 Further a shown, the ~hape, nature 3 and ~upport o~ the control member 60 is such that the control member 60g and here particularly it~ leg 64? i~ cammed by the actuator portion 54 of the release lever means 50 to move the arm 62 and its pin-blocking means 63 o~ the control member 60 away ~rom its pin-blocking position (Figs. 2~4, and 8) as the release le~er means 50 i8 being moved (59~ to achieve movement o~ the latch pin ~4 to it~ withdrawn poaition (~ig. 3) of abutment-rele2se with respect to the sca~fold leg 20~
The movement (74) of the control means 60 i8 automatically achieved i~ response.to pin-relea~e movement (59~ of the m2nually-movable pin-release means which here i8 the lever 50.
~ 8 with the cited prior de~ice6, the overall frame 40 of the latch ~eans 12 has a generally hori~ontal portion 84 ~hich provides a hori~o~tally-extendlng ~upport means; and the actuator means 64 of the control member 60 is provided to have a leg B6 e~tending in the same directior. as iB the direction Or mo~emen~
(74) of the pin-blocking means 63~ the control ~pring 70 being here a compression spring ~1eeved around the leg 86; and the horizontal ~upport means 84 of the ~rame 40 o~ the latch mea~ 12 is provided with an opening 88 (Fig. 2) for accommodating the leg 86 and its movement a~ the control memb~r 60 moves,here vertically~ during movement of its pin-blocking mea~s 63 26.
: ., ,;~;
Also as with the cited prior device~, the overall frame 40 of the latch rDeans 12 is already mentioned as having a generally vertically-extending support means 42, and the ~upport 66 of the abutment leg 62 include6 a plural-effect member 90 in fixed relation to the vertical support 42, the plural-effect member 90 being shown as a channel-like member (Fig~. 7 and 8) o~ a general C-shape in horizontal cross-section, and the opposed webs 92 of the member 90 provide guides for the pin-blocking means 63 of the control member 60 and support the intermediate web 94 spaced from the generally vertically-extending support means 42 of the Prame 40, and the intermediate web 94 provides a bottoming abutment for the pin-spring 44,the intermediate web 94 being provided with an opening means 96 (~igs. 2 and 3) for receiving the latch pin 34 for it6 movement through the intermediate web 94 along axi~ 68.
~ h~t opening means 96 of -the intermediate web 94 iB provided to be operatively close to the shape of the latch pin 34 80 as to be a supporting guide for the latch-pin 34 in both the latch-pin's support po~ition (Fig. 2) of abutment with the scafPold leg-hole 48 and in i-ts withdrawn position (Fig. 3) and in i-t~ movement between tho~e position~.
27.
~æ~s~
Also as shown there are provided a pair of bolt means 98 operatively extending between the generally vertically-extending support means 42 of frame 40 and the intermediate web 94 o~ the plural-effect member 90, and the respective bolts ~8 are on oppo~ite 6ides o~ the latch-pin 34 and its axis or path of travel 68; that is, one of the bolt mean6 98 is positioned away (above as shown) from the adjacent end 82 of the pin-blocklng means 63 of the control member 60 in both its positions of latch-blocking the latch pin 34 and of being withdrawn from its position of blocking the latch-pin 34,and the other one of the bolt means 98 is positioned in the position of the pin-blocking means 63 (that is, below its upper edge 82) of the control member 60 in both its positions of latch pin-blocking (~ig. 2) and of beirg withdrawn from latch-pin blocking (Fig. 3). ~he control memberl~ pin-blocking means 63 is provided with ~- relief opening means 100 accommodating the presence of the lower ~olt mean~
98 in and between both positions of the control member' B pin-blocking means 63.
~ he length of the pin 34 i8 such that in latch-released position (~ig. 3), and in even further leftward position as may be desired to remove the latch-pin 34 for servicing~ the pin 34 would extend leftwardly even leftwardly past the plane of the ~6 blocking arm 63; and thus the vertical frame member 42 of frame 40 i8 provided with an opening 102 in alignment with hole 96 of web 94 and the axia 68 of the latch pin 34, also thus in alignment with holeq 36 and 39, all accommodating the latch-pin 34 along it axis 680 The bia~ by the spring 44 upon the abutment collar 46 of the latch-pin 34, which urge3 the latch-pin 34 to platform-~upport position with a leg-hole 48,also iB utilized by the safety feature 16; for that ~ame bias by the spring 44 holdR
the pin 34 out of the plane o~ the abutment arm 63~ whenever the pin 34 i~ ever in support-position with a leg-hole 48, clearing the space within the channel member 90 and letting the arm 63 move into and ~tay into its pin-abutting position (Figs. 2~4 and 8), that movement of arm-portion 63 into the pin-abutting position being shown a~ urged by the spring 70 and with the movement of the "~i'-shape control member 60 being guided for its translatory movement by one or more of the ef~ects of leg 86 in hole 88, the wall~ 92 and 94 of' the channel member 90, the wall 42 of frame 40, and the sliding of the elongated hole 100 along the lower bolt 98.
~2OE~
Thus in the form Rhown, an~ with the release lever 50 ln its relatively inactive position (the pin-blocked posltion of ~ig~. 2 and 4), the abutment arm 63 ~tays in it6 pin-blocking (raised) position until the user' B squeeze on the release lever 50 moves it for its relatively active po~ition in which it~
actuator ar~ 54 i8 caused to engage the actuator arm ~4 o~ the control meana 60 to cause the abutment arm 63 to be lowered to its pin-unblocking (~igs. 3 and 5) position, that movement of arm 64 also cau~ing the spring 70 to be compressed to cause it to urge or bias the arm 63 back to pin-blocking position upon the user'~ release of the lever 50 and the pin 34's engagement into any of the leg-hole6 48.
Conclusion:
It is thus seen that a safety device for a scaffold latch, constructed an~ used according to the inventive concept6 herein set forth, provides novel concept~ of a desirable and advantageous de~ice, yielding the advantages of a safety against inadvertent or unintentional latch-relea~e of a scaffold platform, and provides special and particular advantages when used as herein set ~orth; and in co--operation with the ac~uation 30.
of a latch-release lever, automatically achleving each of pi~-unblocking and pinDblocking operativity ln accordance with the actuation or no~actuation of the pin-release lever In summary a~ to the nature of the overall devlce' 8 advantageou~ concepts, their inv2ntlYeness is shown by novel feature~ of concept and construction ~hown here in advantageou~
combination with themselve~ and with other components of the ~caffold-latch i-tself, and by the novel concepts hereof not only being different from all the prior art known, but because the achievement is not what i~ or has been sugge~ted to those of ordinary skill in the art, especially realistically considering thi~ as a combination COmpriBing component~ which individually are similar ln nature to what 18 well known to most such persons. Yet no prior art has sugge~ted the Modifications of any prior art to achieve the particular~ of the novel concepts here achie~ed, with the special advantage~ which the oYerall device provide~.
lhe difference~ of concept and con~truction are specified herein, yielding advantages of safety by novel concept even though different type and different nature of ~afety devices for holding a latch-pin against inadverent latch-release have been known and used ~or many years; and quite certainly no particular combination of prior art details as here presented in thi~ overall 31.
~2~
combination ha~ been suggested by the prior art, this achievement in it~ particular detail~ being a sub~tantial and ~dvantageous departure from prlor art, eYen though blocking abutment~ a~
a mechanical feature have been kno~m for a multiplicity o~
uses for many year~. And particularly i8 the overall difference from the prior art ~ignificant when the non-obviousness i~
viewed by a consideration of the sub~ect matter of thi~ overall device as a whole, advantageously getting extra function from components of prior scaffold latche~, and a~ a combination integrally incorporating featureR different from the prior art, in contrast to merely separate detail~ of no~elty themselves, and ~urther in view of the prior art device~ not achieving particular advarltages here achieved by this combination.
Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of the inventiorl according to this illustrati~e embodiment~ con6idered with the accompanying drawing~, that the present inventiorl provides new and u~eful concepts of a novel and advantageou~ ~afety means for a sca~fold latch device, having and yielding desired advantages and characteristics in formation and use, and accomplishing the intended ob~ects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and other~ which are inheren-t in -the invention.
Modifica-tions and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the invention;
accordingly9 the invention i~ ~ot limited to the specific embodiment, or form or arrangement of parts herein de~cribed or shown~
33.
~506 Scaffold latches according to that Application have been and still are quite advantageous, particularly as to factors of ease of latch release as achieved by the release ].ever, the double set of leg-holes making for ease of assembly regardless of leg-set ori.entation, and the ease of maintenance as provided by the more full collaps~
ability of the non-cylindrical springs for the latch pins.
I;loreover, with scaffold latches according to that applica~ion , and those as long ago as in the early (1968) ~erry ~atent I~o. 3~396,817, the special advantage of high safety was achieved by the use of the safety lock provided by the engagement of the mating threads of the pin-disk and of the flxed bushing which serves as a pin-support; but this safety effect was achieved only when the user would take the effort of engaging those threads.
~ ;orkmen, however, often neglect even simple steps for the safety of themselves and other workmen or users, a fact of human nature which has been long known, and something which for many years has caused a special effort in many fields to make devices and work-areas of hopefully accident-proof or even foolproof nature, as users and makers of many types of equipment have become increasingly safety conscious :
as a result of experience, education, governmental enforcement, etc.
Yet, even though ~orkmen of course dislike to be injured, their tendency and apparent habit continues to often avoid safety features, even to try to bypass safety features, even though especially dangerous as to construction or repair work involving scaffolds.
~ nd as an addition to any tendency of hu~an nature to not bother to go to ~uch or zny effort to accept the safety of features which can provide real safety9 which indeed are a feature of those other Perry scaffolds since 1968, if used, those other Perry scaffolds have had a problem, ever since 1968, of the difficulty of engaging the safety threads if poor maintenance or rough handling has permitted the threads to become burred or otherwise hard to engage.
~ d as to other latches having locks or other safety features, none i6 know~ to the inventor as would be obviously useful in the particular field of ~caf~olds, surely without non-obvioue adaptation; and none are known to the inventor which would be responsive to the position or manipulation of the pin-release handle or lever.
5.
~;2~6 ~he present Inventi n, ~ummari~ed:
It is in contraat,against the background of such prior art, which i9 different in concept and particulars of components and feature~ of the overall combination, that the present ~afety latch device ic considered7 Especially providing advantage for scaffold use~ providing protection against inadvertent latch-pin release, the safety latch device compri~es a rele~se lever a~ in Canadi~n Applica~ion Ser. No, 527,192; but quite in contrast to the qafety feature of that Application and the afore~aid 1968 U.S. Patent of this in~entor, the present inventlon provide3 a movable abutment which is ~upported by the overall latch frame and abuttingly blocks pin-release movement of thelatch pln, but the blocking abutment i~
al~o provided to co-operate with the release lever 80 that actuation, will move the blocking abutment or arm to permit latch-release movement of the latch pin. Pin-blocking and pin-releaslng are both of automatlc nature.
,.
By the feature~ thus summarized, and particularly by them in their effect as a combination, and in novel combination with the prior latch features, and in contrast to the prior art known to the inventor and to what eYen by hindsight might be 6.
as~erted as suggestion~ from the prior art, the pre6ent invention provide~ an advantageou~ apparatus for achieving the goal of a novel and useful safety latch device which i6 automatic both in its pin-blocking and pin-release operativity.
Accordingly, although various separate concept~ and components of -the overall Bafe ty latch device are conceded and emphasized to have been known in the prior art, even the present inventor's own earlier Patent and Patent Application, and perhaps other prior art not known to thi~ inventor, nevertheless the ~rior art not haYing had the particular concepts and detail~ as here presented and a~ ahown a~ different from the prior art, even only a fair amount of realistic humility, to avoid considera~ion or this invention improperly by hind~ight, requires the concept3 here to be realistically viewed as inventiYe in their nature~
~rief descrip~tion of the Drawing6:
The above description of the novel and advantageous sa~ety device of the present invention iB of somewhat introductory and generali~ed form. More particular details, concepts, and feature~ are set forth in the following and more detailed description of an illu~trative embodiment, taken in conjunction 7.
~26~;06 with the accompanying drawings, which are of somewhat ~chematic and diagrammatic nature, for showing the inventive concepts of the present invention as are illustrated in this embodiment and shown applied to a ~caffold~
In the drawings, in which Fig. 1 i9 drawn to a very small scale~ and the other views are drawn generally to the same although considerably enlarged scale~
Flg. 1 is a front elevation view of a scaffold device provided with improved safety latch device~ of the present invention~ the view showing two of the sa~ety latch devlces;
and although the scaffold would preferably have two more of the latch devices, i.e., one for each of the two other legs which are hidden in thi6 view, those two other latch device~ are ~imilarly hidden in thie view, being directly behind the latch devices shown;
Figs. 2 and 3 are generally similar vertical cross-sectional views through one of the safety latch devices; and to illustrate by their contrast the operativity of the blocking arm o~ the inven~ion, the overall latch devices of these views of Fig3. 2 and 3 are purpo3ely drawn adjacent one another and at the same level on the paper, with pro~ection lines extending from each view toward the other to show reference of changed po~i-tion~ of the blocking arm feature in re~ponse to the user pulling on the latch-release le~er. More particularly:
Fig. 2 i8 a cross-sectional view through one of the safety latch devices, the devlce in this view showing the latch pin in latching position or condition, the release lever being in its re3ting poRition it has when not being pulled to intentionally achieve the latch'~ pin-release condition9 and illu~trating the 6afety feature of the blocking arm its safety position or condition in which it i~ blocking the latch pin from ~lippage, by any causatio~, out of latched conditio~ with respect to the respective scaffold leg;
Fig. 3, as a contrast to Fig. 2, ie cross-sectional view through the sa~ety latch, but in contras-t to Fig. 2 show~ the parts in their latch-released position or cordition achieved by an intentional pull on the release lever, as indicated by the curving indication-arrow, that action causing, as an incident to the movement of the release lever, a corresponding mo~ement of the blocker arm, as indicated by the downwardly-pointed indicator-arrow, the withdrawal of la~ch release movement of the latch pin being indicated by the leftwardly-pointed indicator-arrow~
Figs. 4-6, with Fig~ 4 and 5 being shown generally as taken by Section-plane 4,5 - 4,5 of Fig. 8, are vertical cross-sectional views of the safety latch device, all these views being such as would show the latch pin in transverae cross section (except that the sectional view o~ ~ig. 4 is not within the span of the latch pin), and, for further illustration of the construction and operativity of the blocking arm and it~
relation to the other componenta, ~igs. 4 and 5 are drawn adjacent one another and at the same level on the paper, with projec~tion lines extending from each view toward the other, similarly to that of Figa. 2 and 3, to show reference of changed po~itions o~ the blocking arm feature in its change ~rom blocking or safety condi-tion in Fig. 4 to its latch-released or non-blocking poaition in Fig. 5. More particularly:
10.
~ ig. 4 1~ a rearward-lo~kln2 vertical cro~s--~ectional ~iew, shown generally a~ taken by Section-line 4-4 of Figo 2 illustrating the blocker arm in raised or safety position of pin-blocking, and indicating by the chain line circle the location o~ abuttirlg engagement of the latch pin against the blocker arm when it i~ in safety (upraised) position;
Fig. 5 i9 a rearward-looking vertical cross-sectional Yiew 9 shown generally a~ take~ by Section-line5-5 of Fîg~ 3, illustrating the blocker arm in lowered position, and the latch pin being free of the blocker arm for permitting latch-pin-release or withdrawal movement of the latch pin;
Fig~ 6 is a outward-looking vertical cross-sectional view, shown generally as taken by Sect~on-line 6-6 of ~ig. 3, illustrating the i~ner or rearward-facing face o~ the release lever and it~ pivot body, Fig. 7 is a fragmental horizontal cross-~ectional view, shown generally as taken by Section-line 7 7 of Figs. 2,4, and 5, and by Section-plane 7-7-7-7 of Fig. 8, illustrating the blocker arm being slidably retained by a channel-like body bolted to the outer frame; and Fig~ 8 i~ a fragmental pictorial view, as another illu~tration of the blocking arm feature, of the blocking arm ~hown in full line~ in its safety-blocking poBition as to the latch pin~ preventing latch-release withdrawal movement o~ the latch pin, and with "double dot" chain lines indicating the lowered position of the blocker arm feature upon the camming-down actuation of the release lever as is indicated by the downwardly-pointing indicator-arrow, and the "single dot" chain line showing the location of abutting engagement of the latch-pin against the blocker arm when the blocker arm i9 in raised or safety position and the rèlea3e lever 1B in itq rest-position not being pulled to purposefully achieve latch-release, that abutting-engagement location, which i~ in line with the latch pin's movement-axis, being shown as being a location then free of the blocker arm when and because the blocker arm is then in it~ downwardly-pressed position (double-dot chairl line~) during latch-pin-release actuation of the release lever, and thu~ then permitting latch pin ~ravel in a ~ithdrawal movement through that engagement location to thus achleve latch-release, - ~go6 the Invention As shown in the.drawings, a scaffold device or unit 10 is ~ho~n provided with safe-ty latch devices 12 of the present invention, for as3uring a safely latched support of the scaffold~s horizontal working platform 14.
In thi~ detailed description of the illu6trative embodiment, although the present invention relates particularly to the latch'~
safety feature 16, the details and operativity of the safety feature 16 seem easiest to under3tand by a preliminary review of the overall scaf~old 10, with its latch devices 12, its working platform 14, and it~ vertical end-frames 18 at each end for ~upporting the platform 1~ at adjustable height as optionally selected by the user.
(Several of the features of the aforesaid Perry patent and application are shown here in a preferred embodiment, a~
background a~ well aa ~howing thelr inter-relation and co-operation of several of those prior device~' features with the novel sa~et~ feature 16 o~ thi~ present invention as applied to each latch 12.~
~ ach of the end-frames 18 of the ~caffolding 10 of the Perry pa-tent ,~nd application3 i8 ~how~ in ~ig. 1 a~ having a 13.
pair of vertical leg~ 20 shown of U-shape in cross-section, and held for stability in spaced rela-tion~hip by hori~ontal rod~
(not here ~hown) extending between the lega 20; and each leg 20 i~ shown as supplied at its upper end with an upright pin 22 for stacking a series of leg-frame~, and at its lower end with a receiver plate 24 having a hole therein to receive the shank-pin of a caster 26, or the pin 22 of an adjacent leg-frame of a stacked arrangement.
The working platform 14 o~ -the ~caf~olding 10 as here shown compri6es a pair o~ side-rails 28, and end-rails (not shown) all of downwardly open U-shape in cross-section, and secured together as by welding into a unitary frame; and aheeting 29 such aR of planking, tread-plate or plywood is ~uitably mounted thereon.
According to the support and adjustment concept~ of the Perry devices,the platform 14 is shown as carrying ad~acert each corner thereof a vertically-extending support 30, shown of U-~hape in cross-section, which open~ inwardly of the end-frame i~ embracing relation wlth itB associated end-frame leg 20. ~he support 30 i8 shown ac braced by a brace 31 extending from the platform 10 to a lower portion of the 3upport 30.
14.
` ~
~ o each of the scaffold' 8 vertical ~upporta 30, the platform 14 of the ~caffolding 10 of those prior de~ices i8 shown secured, as by weld~ng 32, a releasable holding latch means ~entioned above as indicated generally by reference numeral 12 inwardly of the ~caffold end frames 18. The holding latch means 12 i8 shown as comprising a holding or latch pin such as a plunger 34 ~lidably carried for axial movement by an aligned hols 36 o~ a frame plate 38, and a hole 39 of the support 30~ whether the latch pin 34 is in leg-latched position (Fig. 2) or unlatched position (Fig. 3). (The latch-pin'~
supports inwardly of the scaf~old 10 are described below.) A6 6hown, the frame plate 38, which is the part of the overall latch 12 and welded at 32 to the vertical suppor-t 30,is shown as a part of an overall fr~ne member 40, show~ here as of a generally rectangular ~hape, whose rear or inner wall 42 provides the functions of indirectly supporting the latch-pin 34 and of indirectly bottoming the pin-spring 44 which achieves a latching function of the latch-pin 34 with the associated scaffold leg 20, a~ in Fig. 2.
The latch-pin 34 is shown having welded to it an abutment arm shown as a disk 46, of a diameter ~ignificantly larger than that of the pin 34, ~acilitating manual but lever~
assi~ted manipulation of the pin 34 as herein described as to the operativity of achieving latch-release,easily and safely.
Betwreen the outer vertical portion 42 (i.e., rearwardly or outwardly in the sense o~ being an outw æd portion o~ the overall latch assembly 12 a~ spaced from the leg 20, even though aB shown iA on an inner side of the leg 20 when the entirety of the scaffold i8 being considered) of the frame member 40 and the abutment disc 46 there is disposed the compression spring 44, the spring 44 being sleeved around or surrounding the pin 34; and the ends of the spring 44 bottom, respectively7 on disc 46 and indirectly against wall 42 of frame 40, as noted more particularly below.
- Co-operating with the pin 34 for latched support (Figo 2 ) of the platform 14, as in those prior devices, -khe end-frame legs 20 are provided with a vertical series of supporting abutments shown as hole~ 46, each being adapted to supportingly receive a holding pin 349 for achieving the latching effect which holds the desired height-position of the platform 14.
The scaffold legs 20 are of a ~quare cross-section, and, according to the cited Canadian Application Ser~ No. 5~7,192, ~ach of the legs 20 iB provided on both oppo~ite sides with the 16, series of optlo~ally-usable pin~receiving hole6 48; and thi~
double-3et helps ach~eve scaffold-erection or aqsembly easier, by making it a matter of indifference a~ to each ~et 18 of end-leg~ 20 ~hich side thereof i~ facing the plat~orm 14 during a~6embly o~ legs 20 and platform 14a ~ he latch effect of the latch~pins 34 in leg-holes 48 is such that only after full release o~ the pin 34,of -the latch 12 a~sociated with each of the two legs 20 at one end of the scaf~old, can the user raise or lower that end of the platform 14 to its desired height, while holding the pins 34 withdrawn from any of the holes 4~, against the bias of the spring 44 of latch-pin 34, by release means detailed below.
When the height of the platform 14 i3 approxima-tely correct, the user releases tho~e pin-discs of flange-arms 46 as detailed below; and when the pla-tform support 30 comeæ to the location at which the pin 34 i9 in registry with one of the leg-holes 487 the bias of ~pring 44 pusheq the pin 34 to a latched po~ition in a leg-hole 48, as in ~ig. 2, holding the desir0d height-adjustment, a~ in those prior devices.
The friction o~ -the pin 34 in its supporting holes makes pin~withdrawal difficult, e6pecial1y since the openings or holes 17.
-are desirably of small enough ~iæe a~ to provide good support for the pin 34. However~ according to the concepts of the cited Application, unlatching of the pin 34 is made easy and convenient, even though the ~eight or the platform 14 iB causing a tight frictional bind on the pin 34 by the components which touch it while it i~ in latching position; and the feature which provides advantageous means to achieve latch pin removal i~ a release lever designated in full by reference numeral 50.
~ he lever 50, in that Application, provides for releasing the latch means pin 34 by axial movement of the pin 34 in a direction oppo~ite to the direction the pin means 34 are biased by the spring-pressure means 44, thu~ providing means ~or releasing the co-operating mean6 of the pin 34 and leg-hole 48 from holding relation~hip, much easier than in the cited 1968 Perry patent.
I~ore specifically as to the lever means 50, pivot~l support mean~ 52, which extend through a central hole 52a in lever 50, movably ~upport the lever means 50 for engaging the abutment disc means 46 of the pin means 34, with the lever means 50 extending generally transversely of the ~xis of the pin means 34.
18.
``` ~L%~
The lever means 509 thus ~upported and as thus engaging the abu-tment means 46 of the pin mean~ 34, provides a conveniently squeezable and manually-actuatable force means for achieving release of the latch means pin 34 9 by a ~orce indicated by force-arrow 53 (Fig~ 3) which i8 m~nually applied at a location 54 spaced from the pin mean~ 34, that location 54 being the free end of the lever 50, which is easily grasped by the user, as a "one-hand" operation for release of -the pin 34 from leg-hole 48.
As shown, the support means 52 which supports the lever means 50 is itself operatively carried by the scaffold platform 14, as shown by being carried by frame member 38 of the support 30 carried by the platfo~m 14.
Advantage iB also provided by -the lever means 50 and the support m~ans 52 which support~ the lever meana 50 being such that the travel o~ the portion 54 of the lever means 50 receiving latch-releasing force 53, when the latch-releasing (Fig.
force 53 i9 applied to move the lever-portion 54 from the position the lever 50 i~ in when the pin means 34 i~ in its (Fig. 2~ latching engagement with leg-hole 48, iB more than the travel of the portion 56 of the lever means 50 which e~gage~ the 19.
~2~ 6 abutment means 46 of the pin means 34-during the latch-release or pin-withdrawal movement of the lever meana 50~ the ~upport 52 serving as a fulcrum of the lever 50 between it~ portions 54 and 56. (The lever portion 56 tFig. 6) i9 shown a~ of yoke-form, the yoke-arms 58 o~ which straddle the latch-pin 34.) Convenience of operative effect of the lever 50 is further provided by the mounting of the lever 50 such that it i~
squeezable, ire., a 'lone-hand'l (force 53~ operation in which the user reaches his thumb around the scaf~old leg 20 (and the platform-support 30) and his fingers around the lever portion 54. More particularly in thi~ regard, it will be noted that -the lever mean~ 50 and the support mear~s 52 supporting the lever means 50 are 6uch that the travel of the portion 54 of the lever means 50 receiving latch-relea6ing force 5~, when latch-releasing force i8 applied to the lever 50 by force 53 on lever-portion S4, from the po~ition of the lever 50 when the pin mean~ 34 is in latching engagement with leg-hole 48, iB in a direction (reference arrow 59, ~ig. 3) op~osite to that of the travel o~ the pin means 34 during release of the latch mean6 12 (reference arrow 59a, Fig. 3) in wi-thdrawal movement o~ the pin means 34; and7 further, the travel of the force-applied lever-portion 54 during release (arrow 59a, Fig. 3~ of the pin ~4 20.
- ~L2~
iB in direct~on (arrow 59~ toward the ~ertically extending leg 20 o~ the sc6ffoldi~g3 A further and advantageous feature of the scaf~olding 10 as shown in the drawings and per the cited Application Serial iio. 5~7,192 is the provision of the latch spring 44 to be provided to be of non-uniform diameter nature o~ it~ coils; and the nesting effect of the non-uniform diameter of coils of a spring 44 is seen to give high collapsibility or shortening of the spring 44 when compressed.
That extra shortening of the spring 44 is of particular advantage if and when it is desired to disas~emble the component~
o~ the latch assembly 12, such as to repair or replace an assewbly of latch-pin 34 and its collar disc ~6, such a6 ~ecause of the pin 34 or its di~c 46 having become unduly bent or o-therwi~e damaged; for with sufficient shortening of the spring 44 the latch-pin 34 may be moved rearwardly (away from the leg 20 even further than shown in ~ig. 3) far enou~h to be wholly withdrawn from the frame member 40,which is considerably farther than the routine-u~e retraction of the latch-pin 34.
With all that background, detail~ of the present lnvention of the safety feature 16 are now described as to the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings; and although the ~ 1 .
~%~
saIety feature 1~ i~ used in the devices generally a~ per the c~ted Applicationg it co-operatsq with details of their latch devices 12 in an integrated combination to the significant extent herein spec~fied~
~ hat iE~7 the cafety feature 16 particularly co operate~
with several particular~ of tho~e prior latch device~ 129 most particularly with their latch-pins 34 and the releace lever 50 of the c~ted Appl~cation, but also to an extent with the scaf~old'~ support legs 20 and their abutment~ or holes 48 into which the latch pin ~4 extends under bias of spring 44 for supporting the ~upport 30 and the support plat~orm 14, and the latch's peripheral outer frame 40, and alRO it co-operates with the ~rior device~' functional operat~vity o~ the latch pin 34 being supported to be moYable i~to a~d between its platform-supporting positio~ (~ig. 2) a~d a withdrawn position (Fig~ ~) in which the latch~pi~ 34 ~ is caused by the release leYer 50 to be removed ~rom the leg-holes 4B to an abut~ent-release po~ition for permitting a change of relative positio~ of the scaffold's platform 14, As with the release levers 50 of the ci~ed Appilcation, the release le~er means 50 here has been roted as havi~g an actuator portio~ 54 ~or receivi~g manual ~orce 53, ~n~ an .,., ., ~ .
~2~
actuated port~on 56 which by acting onto the pin-di~c 46 operatively engages the latch p.in 34 to cause its latch release movement (arrow 59a~ Fig. 3) against the bias o~ the pin~spring 44.
Now are ~pecified the details of the safety feature 16 itself, a~ follows:
According to the present invention, there i~ provided a movable control member generally identified by reference numeral 60, as shown (especially as in Fig. 8~ to be o~ a general "~" shape, its upright or vertical leg 62 provi~ing at it~ upper end 63 a pin-blocking means, and itB horizontal leg 64 providing an actuator means.
hs detailed below, in the form shown there are provided support means 66 which 6upport the control member 60 in and between two operative po~itions, ~hat i~ the support mean~ 66 ~upports the control member 60 in and between a first position (Figs. 2,4, and 8) in which its pin-blocking arm mean~ 63 i~ di~posed in the path or axi~ 68 of withdrawal movement of the latch pin 349 thu~ blocking the latch-releasing movement of the latch-pin 34 from moving from its leg-abutting poaition (Fig~ 2) of ~upport of the support 30 and platform 14, to the latch-pin 34'~
~5~
withdrawn posit~on (Fig~ 3) of release o~ the latch-pin 34 from leg-hole~ 48, and a ~econd position (Figs. 3 and 5) in which the control member' 8 pin-blocking means 63 is withdrawn from the pin-withdrawal axis or path 68, thus permi-tting the latch~pin ~4 to move to itq withdra~m position (~igo 3 ) 0 release of the pin 34 from the leg-holes 48.
Also as shown a control spring 70 i9 proYided, which biases the control me~ber 60 to its upper position (~ig8.
2 and 4~ in which its pin-blocking me~ns ~3 i9 in raised or pin-blocking position.
Release of that pin-blocking po~ition of latch-pin 34 i6 provided by the actuator means 64 o~ the control member 60 being ~orced (indicated by force arrow 72 of ~ig~ 8) to be moved in response to pin-releasing mo~ement (indicator arrow 74Of ~ig. 3 a~d space- indicating lines 76 of Figs7 2-5 and 8) of the control member 60 to move its pin-blocking means 63 to a lowered or withdrawn position (~igs. 3 and 5) in which the pin 34 is no longer blocked but is movable (i~dicator arrow 59a, Fig. 3) to its withdrawn (.leftward, ~ig. 3) position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg-hole 48.
24.
~2~i~35~
That lowering movement of the control member 60 i~ also shown diagrammatically by indlcator line 78 of ~ig. 4 and indicator line 80 of ~ig. 5~ which respectively show the upper edge 82 of the pin-blocking upper portion 63 of leg 62 of control member 60 being respectively above (~ig. 4) and below (Fig. 5) the axis 68 of latch pl~ 34, depending, as with indicator lines 76, upon whether the relea~e lever 50 is then being moved (arrow 59, ~ig. 3) to produce the force 72 (~ig. 8) to cause the movement 74 (~ig. 3) downwardly, o~ control 60 and its pin~
blocking portion 63.
~ hat unblocking of the pin 34 in ~ig. 3, in contrast to its blocking pocition of ~ig. 2 in which t~e pin 34 is blocked by the arm-abutment 63, i6 indicated in Fig. 3 by indicator line 80 a~ in Fig. 5.
It is to be noted in the .~orm shown that the only time the latch-pin 34 can move to its withdrawn (left, ~ig. 3) position sufficiently to release i-t~ abu-tment with the sca.~fold leg-hole 48 of its platform-support i~ whlle -the release lever means 50 is being actuated (indicator arrow 59 in Fig, 3) to cause pin-withdrawal thrust 59a upon the latch-pi~ 34 by force 53 applied to the actuator por-tion 54 of the release lever mean~ 50.
, 25 Further a shown, the ~hape, nature 3 and ~upport o~ the control member 60 is such that the control member 60g and here particularly it~ leg 64? i~ cammed by the actuator portion 54 of the release lever means 50 to move the arm 62 and its pin-blocking means 63 o~ the control member 60 away ~rom its pin-blocking position (Figs. 2~4, and 8) as the release le~er means 50 i8 being moved (59~ to achieve movement o~ the latch pin ~4 to it~ withdrawn poaition (~ig. 3) of abutment-rele2se with respect to the sca~fold leg 20~
The movement (74) of the control means 60 i8 automatically achieved i~ response.to pin-relea~e movement (59~ of the m2nually-movable pin-release means which here i8 the lever 50.
~ 8 with the cited prior de~ice6, the overall frame 40 of the latch ~eans 12 has a generally hori~ontal portion 84 ~hich provides a hori~o~tally-extendlng ~upport means; and the actuator means 64 of the control member 60 is provided to have a leg B6 e~tending in the same directior. as iB the direction Or mo~emen~
(74) of the pin-blocking means 63~ the control ~pring 70 being here a compression spring ~1eeved around the leg 86; and the horizontal ~upport means 84 of the ~rame 40 o~ the latch mea~ 12 is provided with an opening 88 (Fig. 2) for accommodating the leg 86 and its movement a~ the control memb~r 60 moves,here vertically~ during movement of its pin-blocking mea~s 63 26.
: ., ,;~;
Also as with the cited prior device~, the overall frame 40 of the latch rDeans 12 is already mentioned as having a generally vertically-extending support means 42, and the ~upport 66 of the abutment leg 62 include6 a plural-effect member 90 in fixed relation to the vertical support 42, the plural-effect member 90 being shown as a channel-like member (Fig~. 7 and 8) o~ a general C-shape in horizontal cross-section, and the opposed webs 92 of the member 90 provide guides for the pin-blocking means 63 of the control member 60 and support the intermediate web 94 spaced from the generally vertically-extending support means 42 of the Prame 40, and the intermediate web 94 provides a bottoming abutment for the pin-spring 44,the intermediate web 94 being provided with an opening means 96 (~igs. 2 and 3) for receiving the latch pin 34 for it6 movement through the intermediate web 94 along axi~ 68.
~ h~t opening means 96 of -the intermediate web 94 iB provided to be operatively close to the shape of the latch pin 34 80 as to be a supporting guide for the latch-pin 34 in both the latch-pin's support po~ition (Fig. 2) of abutment with the scafPold leg-hole 48 and in i-ts withdrawn position (Fig. 3) and in i-t~ movement between tho~e position~.
27.
~æ~s~
Also as shown there are provided a pair of bolt means 98 operatively extending between the generally vertically-extending support means 42 of frame 40 and the intermediate web 94 o~ the plural-effect member 90, and the respective bolts ~8 are on oppo~ite 6ides o~ the latch-pin 34 and its axis or path of travel 68; that is, one of the bolt mean6 98 is positioned away (above as shown) from the adjacent end 82 of the pin-blocklng means 63 of the control member 60 in both its positions of latch-blocking the latch pin 34 and of being withdrawn from its position of blocking the latch-pin 34,and the other one of the bolt means 98 is positioned in the position of the pin-blocking means 63 (that is, below its upper edge 82) of the control member 60 in both its positions of latch pin-blocking (~ig. 2) and of beirg withdrawn from latch-pin blocking (Fig. 3). ~he control memberl~ pin-blocking means 63 is provided with ~- relief opening means 100 accommodating the presence of the lower ~olt mean~
98 in and between both positions of the control member' B pin-blocking means 63.
~ he length of the pin 34 i8 such that in latch-released position (~ig. 3), and in even further leftward position as may be desired to remove the latch-pin 34 for servicing~ the pin 34 would extend leftwardly even leftwardly past the plane of the ~6 blocking arm 63; and thus the vertical frame member 42 of frame 40 i8 provided with an opening 102 in alignment with hole 96 of web 94 and the axia 68 of the latch pin 34, also thus in alignment with holeq 36 and 39, all accommodating the latch-pin 34 along it axis 680 The bia~ by the spring 44 upon the abutment collar 46 of the latch-pin 34, which urge3 the latch-pin 34 to platform-~upport position with a leg-hole 48,also iB utilized by the safety feature 16; for that ~ame bias by the spring 44 holdR
the pin 34 out of the plane o~ the abutment arm 63~ whenever the pin 34 i~ ever in support-position with a leg-hole 48, clearing the space within the channel member 90 and letting the arm 63 move into and ~tay into its pin-abutting position (Figs. 2~4 and 8), that movement of arm-portion 63 into the pin-abutting position being shown a~ urged by the spring 70 and with the movement of the "~i'-shape control member 60 being guided for its translatory movement by one or more of the ef~ects of leg 86 in hole 88, the wall~ 92 and 94 of' the channel member 90, the wall 42 of frame 40, and the sliding of the elongated hole 100 along the lower bolt 98.
~2OE~
Thus in the form Rhown, an~ with the release lever 50 ln its relatively inactive position (the pin-blocked posltion of ~ig~. 2 and 4), the abutment arm 63 ~tays in it6 pin-blocking (raised) position until the user' B squeeze on the release lever 50 moves it for its relatively active po~ition in which it~
actuator ar~ 54 i8 caused to engage the actuator arm ~4 o~ the control meana 60 to cause the abutment arm 63 to be lowered to its pin-unblocking (~igs. 3 and 5) position, that movement of arm 64 also cau~ing the spring 70 to be compressed to cause it to urge or bias the arm 63 back to pin-blocking position upon the user'~ release of the lever 50 and the pin 34's engagement into any of the leg-hole6 48.
Conclusion:
It is thus seen that a safety device for a scaffold latch, constructed an~ used according to the inventive concept6 herein set forth, provides novel concept~ of a desirable and advantageous de~ice, yielding the advantages of a safety against inadvertent or unintentional latch-relea~e of a scaffold platform, and provides special and particular advantages when used as herein set ~orth; and in co--operation with the ac~uation 30.
of a latch-release lever, automatically achleving each of pi~-unblocking and pinDblocking operativity ln accordance with the actuation or no~actuation of the pin-release lever In summary a~ to the nature of the overall devlce' 8 advantageou~ concepts, their inv2ntlYeness is shown by novel feature~ of concept and construction ~hown here in advantageou~
combination with themselve~ and with other components of the ~caffold-latch i-tself, and by the novel concepts hereof not only being different from all the prior art known, but because the achievement is not what i~ or has been sugge~ted to those of ordinary skill in the art, especially realistically considering thi~ as a combination COmpriBing component~ which individually are similar ln nature to what 18 well known to most such persons. Yet no prior art has sugge~ted the Modifications of any prior art to achieve the particular~ of the novel concepts here achie~ed, with the special advantage~ which the oYerall device provide~.
lhe difference~ of concept and con~truction are specified herein, yielding advantages of safety by novel concept even though different type and different nature of ~afety devices for holding a latch-pin against inadverent latch-release have been known and used ~or many years; and quite certainly no particular combination of prior art details as here presented in thi~ overall 31.
~2~
combination ha~ been suggested by the prior art, this achievement in it~ particular detail~ being a sub~tantial and ~dvantageous departure from prlor art, eYen though blocking abutment~ a~
a mechanical feature have been kno~m for a multiplicity o~
uses for many year~. And particularly i8 the overall difference from the prior art ~ignificant when the non-obviousness i~
viewed by a consideration of the sub~ect matter of thi~ overall device as a whole, advantageously getting extra function from components of prior scaffold latche~, and a~ a combination integrally incorporating featureR different from the prior art, in contrast to merely separate detail~ of no~elty themselves, and ~urther in view of the prior art device~ not achieving particular advarltages here achieved by this combination.
Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of the inventiorl according to this illustrati~e embodiment~ con6idered with the accompanying drawing~, that the present inventiorl provides new and u~eful concepts of a novel and advantageou~ ~afety means for a sca~fold latch device, having and yielding desired advantages and characteristics in formation and use, and accomplishing the intended ob~ects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and other~ which are inheren-t in -the invention.
Modifica-tions and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the invention;
accordingly9 the invention i~ ~ot limited to the specific embodiment, or form or arrangement of parts herein de~cribed or shown~
33.
Claims (23)
1. A latch means for a scaffold, the scaffold having a support leg having an abutment against which a latch pin of the latch means abuts for supporting a support platform of the scaffold, the latch pin being supported to be movable into and between (a) a support position in which it abuts the leg abutment for supporting the platform and (b) a withdrawn position in which the latch pin is removed from the leg abutment to an abutment-release position for permitting a change of position of the platform with respect to the leg, there being a pin-spring which biases the latch pin to its platform-supporting position in which it abuts the leg abutment, 34.
there being a release lever means, having an actuator portion and an actuated portion, the actuator portion being manually movable to cause the actuated portion to operatively engage the latch pin and to cause its movement to its said withdrawn position of leg-abutment-release, against the bias of the pin-spring, the improvement for such a latch means, comprising:
a movable control member having a pin-blocking means and an actuator means, support means which supports the control member in and between (a) a position in which its pin-blocking means is disposed in the path of the latch pin, thus blocking the latch pin from moving from its leg-abutting 35.
position of platform support to its withdrawn position, and (b) a position in which the control member's pin blocking means is withdrawn from said path, thus permitting the latch pin to move to its withdrawn position of leg-abutment release, a control spring being provided, which biases the control member to a position in which its pin-blocking means is in pin-blocking position, the actuator means of the control member being moved in response to pin releasing movement of the release lever means, to achieve movement of the control member to move its pin-blocking means to a withdrawn position in 36.
which the pin is movable to its withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg, the arrangement providing that the only time the latch pin can move to its withdrawn position sufficiently to release its abutment with the scaffold leg abutment of platform support is while the release lever means is being actuated to cause pin-withdrawal thrust upon the latch pin by force applied to the actuator portion of the release lever means.
there being a release lever means, having an actuator portion and an actuated portion, the actuator portion being manually movable to cause the actuated portion to operatively engage the latch pin and to cause its movement to its said withdrawn position of leg-abutment-release, against the bias of the pin-spring, the improvement for such a latch means, comprising:
a movable control member having a pin-blocking means and an actuator means, support means which supports the control member in and between (a) a position in which its pin-blocking means is disposed in the path of the latch pin, thus blocking the latch pin from moving from its leg-abutting 35.
position of platform support to its withdrawn position, and (b) a position in which the control member's pin blocking means is withdrawn from said path, thus permitting the latch pin to move to its withdrawn position of leg-abutment release, a control spring being provided, which biases the control member to a position in which its pin-blocking means is in pin-blocking position, the actuator means of the control member being moved in response to pin releasing movement of the release lever means, to achieve movement of the control member to move its pin-blocking means to a withdrawn position in 36.
which the pin is movable to its withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg, the arrangement providing that the only time the latch pin can move to its withdrawn position sufficiently to release its abutment with the scaffold leg abutment of platform support is while the release lever means is being actuated to cause pin-withdrawal thrust upon the latch pin by force applied to the actuator portion of the release lever means.
2. The invention as set forth in Claim 1, in a combination in which the control member is formed to have a general L-shape, one leg of it being supported in a 37.
generally vertical orientation for providing the pin-blocking means, and the other leg of which being supported in a generally horizontal orientation for providing the actuator means of the control member, and providing that the control member is cammed by the actuator portion of the release lever means to move the pin-blocking means of the control member away from its pin-blocking position as the release lever means is being moved to achieve movement of the latch pin to its said withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg.
generally vertical orientation for providing the pin-blocking means, and the other leg of which being supported in a generally horizontal orientation for providing the actuator means of the control member, and providing that the control member is cammed by the actuator portion of the release lever means to move the pin-blocking means of the control member away from its pin-blocking position as the release lever means is being moved to achieve movement of the latch pin to its said withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg.
3. The invention as set forth in Claim 2, in a combination in which the latch means has a generally horizontally-extending support means, and the actuator means 38.
of the control member is provided with a leg extending in the same direction as is the direction of movement of the pin-blocking means, the control spring being a compression spring sleeved around said leg, and the said support means of the latch means being provided with an opening for accommodating said leg and its movement as the control member moves during movement of its pin-blocking means.
of the control member is provided with a leg extending in the same direction as is the direction of movement of the pin-blocking means, the control spring being a compression spring sleeved around said leg, and the said support means of the latch means being provided with an opening for accommodating said leg and its movement as the control member moves during movement of its pin-blocking means.
4. The invention as set forth in Claim 1, in a combination in which the latch means has a generally vertically-extending support means, and there is provided a plural-effect member in fixed relation thereto, the plural-effect member being of a general C-shape in horizontal cross-section, the opposed webs of which provide guides for the pin-blocking means of the control member, and support the intermediate web spaced from the generally vertically-extending support means, and the intermediate web 39.
provides a bottoming abutment for the pin-spring, the intermediate web being provided with an opening means for receiving the latch pin therethrough.
provides a bottoming abutment for the pin-spring, the intermediate web being provided with an opening means for receiving the latch pin therethrough.
5. The invention as set forth in Claim 2, in a combination in which the latch means has a generally vertically-extending support means, and there is provided a plural-effect member in fixed relation thereto, the plural-effect member being of a general C-shape in horizontal cross-section, the opposed webs of which provide guides for the pin-blocking means of the control member, and support the intermediate web spaced from the generally vertically-extending support means, and the intermediate web provides a bottoming abutment for the pin-spring, the intermediate web being provided with an opening means for receiving the latch pin therethrough.
40.
40.
6. The invention as set forth in Claim 3, in a combination in which the latch means has a generally vertically-extending support means, and there is provided a plural-effect member in fixed relation thereto, the plural-effect member being of a general C-shape in horizontal cross-section, the opposed webs of which provide guides for the pin-blocking means of the control member, and support the intermediate web spaced from the generally vertically-extending support means, and the intermediate web provides a bottoming abutment for the pin-spring, the intermediate web being provided with an opening means for receiving the latch pin therethrough.
7. The invention as set forth in Claim 4, in a combination in which the opening means of the intermediate web is provided to be operatively close to the shape of the latch pin so as to be a supporting guide for the latch 41.
pin in both its support position of abutment with the scaffold leg abutment and in its withdrawn position, and in its movement between said positions.
pin in both its support position of abutment with the scaffold leg abutment and in its withdrawn position, and in its movement between said positions.
8. The invention as set forth in Claim 5, in a combination in which the opening means of the intermediate web is provided to be operatively close to the shape of the latch pin so as to be a supporting guide for the latch pin in both its support position of abutment with the scaffold leg abutment and in its withdrawn position, and in its movement between said positions.
9. The invention as set forth in Claim 6, in a combination in which the opening means of the intermediate web is provided to be operatively close to the shape of the latch pin so as to be a supporting guide for the latch pin in both its support position of abutment with the 42.
scaffold leg abutment and in its withdrawn position, and in its movement between said positions.
scaffold leg abutment and in its withdrawn position, and in its movement between said positions.
10. The invention as set forth in Claim 4, in a combination in which there are provided a pair of bolt means operatively extending between the generally vertically-extending support means and the intermediate web of the plural-effect member, and on opposite sides of the latch pin and its path of travel, one of the bolt means being positioned away from the adjacent end of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, and the other one of the bolt means being positioned in the position of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, the control member's pin-blocking means being provided with a relief opening means accommodating 43.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
11. The invention as set forth in Claim 5, in a combination in which there are provided a pair of bolt means operatively extending between the generally vertically-extending support means and the intermediate web of the plural-effect member, and on opposite sides of the latch pin and its path of travel, one of the bolt means being positioned away from the adjacent end of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, and the other one of the bolt means being positioned in the position of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, the control member's pin-blocking means being provided with a relief opening means accommodating 44.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
12. The invention as set forth in Claim 6, in a combination in which there are provided a pair of bolt means operatively extending between the generally vertically-extending support means and the intermediate web of the plural-effect member, and on opposite sides of the latch pin and its path of travel, one of the bolt means being positioned away from the adjacent end of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, and the other one of the bolt means being positioned in the position of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, the control member's pin-blocking means being provided with a relief opening means accommodating 45.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
13. The invention as set forth in Claim 7, in a combination in which there are provided a pair of bolt means operatively extending between the generally vertically-extending support means and the intermediate web of the plural-effect member, and on opposite sides of the latch pin and its path of travel, one of the bolt means being positioned away from the adjacent end of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, and the other one of the bolt means being positioned in the position of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, the control member's pin-blocking means being provided with a relief opening means accommodating 46.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
14, The invention as set forth in Claim 8, in a combination in which there are provided a pair of bolt means operatively extending between the generally vertically-extending support means and the intermediate web of the plural-effect member, and on opposite sides of the latch pin and its path of travel, one of the bolt means being positioned away from the adjacent end of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, and the other one of the bolt means being positioned in the position of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, the control member's pin-blocking means being provided with a relief opening means accommodating 47.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member's pin-blocking means.
15. The invention as set forth in Claim 9, is a combination in which there are provided a pair of bolt means operatively extending between the generally vertically-extending support means and the intermediate web of the plural-effect member, and on opposite sides of the latch pin and its path of travel, one of the bolt means being positioned away from the adjacent end of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, and the other one of the bolt means being positioned in the position of the pin-blocking means of the control member in both its positions of latch pin blocking and of being withdrawn from latch pin blocking, the control member's pin-blocking means being provided with a relief opening means accommodating the presence of the bolt means in and between both positions of the control member' s pin-blocking means, 48.
16. A latch means for a scaffold, the scaffold having a support leg having an abutment against which a latch pin of the latch means abuts for supporting a support platform of the scaffold, the latch pin being supported to be movable into and between (a) a support position in which it abuts the leg abutment for supporting the platform and (b) a withdrawn position in which the latch pin is removed from the leg abutment to an abutment-release position for permitting a change of position of the platform with respect to the leg, the latch means having a manually-movable pin-release means which is operatively engageable with the latch pin to cause its movement to its said withdrawn position of leg-abutment release, 49.
the improvement for such a latch means, comprising:
a movable control means having a pin-blocking means and an actuator means, there being provided support means for the movable control means such that its pin-blocking means is moved with respect to the latch pin and into and between (a) a pin-blocking position in which it engages with the latch pin for blocking movement of the latch pin from its position of leg-abutting platform support to its said withdrawn position, and (b) a non-blocking position with respect to the latch-pin, in which the pin-blocking means is withdrawn from the pin blocking position and is out of engagement with the latch pin, permitting the latch pin to move to its withdrawn position of leg-abutment-release, 50.
and the actuator means of the control means engages with the manually-movable pin-release means, such that the actuator means of the control means is moved in response to pin-releasing movement of the manually-movable pin-release means, to actuate the control means to move its pin-blocking means to move to its withdrawn position in which it does not block the latch pin from moving to a position withdrawn from platform-supportive engagement with the leg abutment, the arrangement providing that the latch pin is operatively blocked from moving to its withdrawn position sufficiently to release its platform-supporting abutting engagement with the leg abutment unless the manually-movable pin-release means is then in its pin-releasing position, 51.
the improvement for such a latch means, comprising:
a movable control means having a pin-blocking means and an actuator means, there being provided support means for the movable control means such that its pin-blocking means is moved with respect to the latch pin and into and between (a) a pin-blocking position in which it engages with the latch pin for blocking movement of the latch pin from its position of leg-abutting platform support to its said withdrawn position, and (b) a non-blocking position with respect to the latch-pin, in which the pin-blocking means is withdrawn from the pin blocking position and is out of engagement with the latch pin, permitting the latch pin to move to its withdrawn position of leg-abutment-release, 50.
and the actuator means of the control means engages with the manually-movable pin-release means, such that the actuator means of the control means is moved in response to pin-releasing movement of the manually-movable pin-release means, to actuate the control means to move its pin-blocking means to move to its withdrawn position in which it does not block the latch pin from moving to a position withdrawn from platform-supportive engagement with the leg abutment, the arrangement providing that the latch pin is operatively blocked from moving to its withdrawn position sufficiently to release its platform-supporting abutting engagement with the leg abutment unless the manually-movable pin-release means is then in its pin-releasing position, 51.
17. The invention as set forth in Claim 16, in a combination in which the manually-movable pin-release means of the latch means has (a) a relatively inactive position in which it is not operatively engaging the latch pin to cause its movement to its said withdrawn position, and (b) a relatively active position in which it is causing such pin-movement, and in which the operative engageability of the actuator means of the control means with the manually-movable pin-release means, and the support of the movable control means, is such that for the manually-movable pin-release means to move from its said relatively inactive position to its said relatively active position, the actuator means of the control means moves in such a way that the pin-blocking means of the control means is moved from its said pin-blocking position of engagement with the latch pin to its said non-blocking position with respect to the latch pin.
52.
52.
18. The invention as set forth in Claim 17 in a combination in which spring means are provided which bias the control means to a condition with the pin-blocking means in pin-blocking position, thus assuring that unless the manually-movable pin-release means is being moved into or is in operative engagement with the latch pin to effect latch-pin withdrawal, the pin-blocking means of the control means will be in position to block the latch pin against movement into withdrawn position.
19. The invention as set forth in Claim 16 in a combination in which the control means comprises a member of a form to have a general L-shape, one leg of it being supported in a generally vertical orientation for providing the pin-blocking means, and the other leg of which being supported in a generally horizontal orientation for providing the actuator means of the control means, and providing that the control means is cammed by the manually-movable pin-release means to move the pin-blocking means of the control means away from its pin-blocking position engaging the latch pin as the manually movable pin-release means is being moved to achieve movement of the latch pin to its said withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg.
53.
53.
20. The invention as set forth in Claim 17 in a combination in which the control means comprises a member of a form to have a general L-shape, one leg of it being supported in a generally vertical orientation for providing the pin-blocking means, and the other leg of which being supported in a generally horizontal orientation for providing the actuator means of the control means; and providing that the control means is cammed by the manually-movable pin-release means to move the pin-blocking means of the control means away from its pin-blocking position as the manually-movable pin-release means is being moved to achieve movement of the latch pin to its said withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg.
54.
54.
21. The invention as set forth in Claim 18 in a combination in which the control means comprises a member of a form to have a general L-shape, one leg of it being supported in a generally vertical orientation for providing the pin-blocking means, and the other leg of which being supported in a generally horizontal orientation for providing the actuator means of the control means; and providing that the control means is cammed by the manually-movable pin-release means to move the pin-blocking means of the control means away from its pin-blocking position as the manually-movable pin-release means is being moved to achieve movement of the latch pin to its said withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg.
55.
55.
22. A latch means for a scaffold, the scaffold having a support leg having an abutment against which a latch pin of the latch means abuts for supporting a support platform of the scaffold, the latch pin being supported to be movable into and between (a) a support position in which it abuts the leg abutment for supporting the platform and (b) a withdrawn position in which the latch pin is removed from the leg abutment to an abutment-release position for permitting a change of position of the platform with respect to the leg, there being a pin-spring which biases the latch pin to its platform-supporting position in which it abuts the leg abutment, 56.
there being a release lever means, having an actuator portion and an actuated portion, the actuator portion being manually movable to cause the actuated portion to operatively engage the latch pin and to cause its movement to its said withdrawn position of leg-abutment-release, against the bias of the pin-spring, the improvement for such a latch means, comprising:
a movable control member having a pin-blocking means and an actuator means, support means which supports the control member in and between (a) a position in which its pin-blocking means is disposed in the path of, and in contact with the latch pin, thus blocking the latch pin from moving from 57.
its leg-abutting position of platform support to its withdrawn position, and (b) a position in which the control member's pin-blocking means is withdrawn from said path, and out of contact with said latch pin, thus permitting the latch pin to move to its withdrawn position of leg-abutment release, and the actuator means of the movable control member engaging the release lever means for co-ordinated movement such that the actuator means of the control member is moved in response to pin-releasing movement of the release lever means, to achieve movement of the control member to move its pin-blocking means to a withdrawn position in which the pin is movable to its withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg, 58.
the arrangement providing that the only time the latch pin can move to its withdrawn position sufficiently to release its abutment with the scaffold leg abutment of platform support is while the release lever means is being actuated to cause pin-withdrawal thrust upon the latch pin by force applied to the actuator portion of the release lever means.
there being a release lever means, having an actuator portion and an actuated portion, the actuator portion being manually movable to cause the actuated portion to operatively engage the latch pin and to cause its movement to its said withdrawn position of leg-abutment-release, against the bias of the pin-spring, the improvement for such a latch means, comprising:
a movable control member having a pin-blocking means and an actuator means, support means which supports the control member in and between (a) a position in which its pin-blocking means is disposed in the path of, and in contact with the latch pin, thus blocking the latch pin from moving from 57.
its leg-abutting position of platform support to its withdrawn position, and (b) a position in which the control member's pin-blocking means is withdrawn from said path, and out of contact with said latch pin, thus permitting the latch pin to move to its withdrawn position of leg-abutment release, and the actuator means of the movable control member engaging the release lever means for co-ordinated movement such that the actuator means of the control member is moved in response to pin-releasing movement of the release lever means, to achieve movement of the control member to move its pin-blocking means to a withdrawn position in which the pin is movable to its withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg, 58.
the arrangement providing that the only time the latch pin can move to its withdrawn position sufficiently to release its abutment with the scaffold leg abutment of platform support is while the release lever means is being actuated to cause pin-withdrawal thrust upon the latch pin by force applied to the actuator portion of the release lever means.
23. The invention as set forth in Claim 22, in a combination in which the control member is formed to have a general L-shape, one leg of it being supported in a generally vertical orientation for providing the pin-blocking means, and the other leg of which being supported in a generally horizontal orientation for providing the actuator means of the control member, and providing that the control 59.
member is moved by its being so interconnected to the release lever means to move the pin-blocking means of the control member away from its pin-blocking position as the release lever means is being moved to achieve movement of the latch pin to its said withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg.
60.
member is moved by its being so interconnected to the release lever means to move the pin-blocking means of the control member away from its pin-blocking position as the release lever means is being moved to achieve movement of the latch pin to its said withdrawn position of abutment-release with respect to the scaffold leg.
60.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/135,648 US4793438A (en) | 1986-09-16 | 1987-12-21 | Scaffold latch means |
| US135,648 | 1987-12-21 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1268506A true CA1268506A (en) | 1990-05-01 |
Family
ID=22469023
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000581081A Expired CA1268506A (en) | 1987-12-21 | 1988-10-24 | Scaffold latch means |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1268506A (en) |
-
1988
- 1988-10-24 CA CA000581081A patent/CA1268506A/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |