CA2508598A1

CA2508598A1 - Scaffold safety device

Info

Publication number: CA2508598A1
Application number: CA 2508598
Authority: CA
Inventors: Gianluca D'emilio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-27
Filing date: 2005-05-27
Publication date: 2006-11-27

Abstract

A cleat, preferably metal, is pivotally secured to a plank at each lateral end portion thereof and includes opposite side arms secured to the side edges of the plank, connected by cross piece of the cleat. The plank is secured to the front and rear side edges of the plank by a metal screw or the like. The cleat is pivotal about a pivot axis between a first position and a storage position. The cleat is formed and shaped so as to ensure that it is cannot pivot outwardly laterally from the first position, thus ensuring that the plank will not slip laterally when positioned on cross members of a support frame. In the storage position, cross piece sit flush against the bottom of the plank and thereby takes up minimal space during storage and transportation, thus allowing easier stacking of the planks.

Description

SCAFFOLD SAFETY DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a scaffold plank safety device which utilizes an improved cleat to prevent lateral slippage of the plank when positioned upon a support frame.
As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, wood scaffold planks (10) known in the prior art are positioned across support frames (14). The lateral end portions (12) of each plank rest upon cross members (16) of frames (14). To ensure that the planks do not slip laterally, cleats (18), typically made of wood, are secured across the bottom of the plank adjacent each end portion (12) thereof with the cross member sitting between or immediately adjacent the cleats. These wood cleats are of comparable thickness to the planks themselves. For example, 2 inch by 2 inch wood cleats are often nailed to the bottom of the scaffold plank (10). Scaffold planks including these types of cleats are quite cumbersome to store and transport as the cleats (18) add significantly to the amount of space the planks require when being stacked for storage and transportation.
There is a need for an improved scaffold plank safety cleat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided a safety cleat for a scaffold plank, the scaffold plank having a top side, bottom side, opposing outer lateral end portions and front and rear side edges, said cleat comprising opposing side arms connected to each other by a cross piece, said side arms each pivotally attachable to the front and rear side edges respectively of the plank, and when so pivotally attached to the plank, the cleat is pivotal about a pivot axis from a first position whereat the cross piece is positioned outwardly of the pivot axis and an upper edge of the cross piece abuts the bottom side of the plank and thereby prevents outward pivoting of the cleat to a storage position whereat the cross piece sits flush with the bottom surface of the plank.
Advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described hereinbelow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a scaffold plank and frame of the prior art;
Figures 2 and 3 are partial perspective views of the scaffold plank shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleat, scaffold plank and frame of the invention;
Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the cleat and scaffold plank of the invention with frame shown in dotted lines;
Figure 6 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the scaffold plank of the invention illustrating movement of the cleat from the first position to the storage position;
Figure 7 is a section view of an embodiment of the cleat and scaffold plank of the invention taken along lines 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a further perspective view of an embodiment of cleats of the invention attached to a plank shown in dotted lines;
Figure 9 is a side elevation view of a stack of embodiments of planks in accordance with the invention, showing the cleat in the storage position; and Figure 10 is a section view taken along line 10-10 of Figure 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is described below. The improved scaffold plank safety cleat of the herein invention includes a cleat (20), preferably metal, which is pivotally secured to the plank (10) at each lateral end portion (12) thereof. In the embodiment shown, the cleat includes opposite side arms (25) connected by cross piece (23) of the cleat. The opposite side arms (25) of the cleat (18) are secured to the front (30) and rear (32) side edges respectively of the plank by a screw (22) or the like, thereby forming a pivot axis (P-P). In a preferred example of an embodiment of the invention two inch wood hex-screws are utilized to secure the cleat (22) to the plank (18). Alternately a flat headed screw, or sunken head screw may be utilized in order to ensure that a plurality of planks may be laid across the platform side by side without head of the screws sticking out and preventing positioning of the planks immediately adjacent each other on the frame.
Figure 4 illustrates two planks side by side on a frame, however it should be understood that a plurality of planks may be laid out across the cross members to form a scaffold platform which covers the entire cross members.

The cleat (20) is pivotal about a pivot axis (indicated by line P-P in Figure 7) between a first position shown in Figures 4 and 5 and a storage position shown in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The cleat (20) is formed and shaped so as to ensure that it is cannot pivot outwardly laterally from the first position, thus ensuring that the plank will not slip laterally when positioned on the cross members (16) of the support frame (14) as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, when in the first position, cross piece (23) is located outwardly of the pivot axis (P-P) and an upper edge of the cross piece abuts the bottom surface (36) of the plank, thereby preventing outward lateral pivoting of the cleat from the first position, and thus preventing slippage of the plank relative to the support frame cross member (16).
As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the cleats (20) on each plank (10) are positioned immediately adjacent outwardly laterally from the cross members (16) of the support!
scaffold frames (14). Because an upper edge of cross piece (23) abuts the bottom surface (36) of the plank in the first position, outward pivoting of the cleat is prevented, and thus because the cleats are immediately outwardly laterally adjacent each respective cross member (16), the support plank is prevented from slipping laterally.
The cleat is pivotal about pivot axis P-P from the first position to the storage position (Figure 6 shows pivoting from the first to storage positions). In the storage position, shown in Figures 8, cross piece 23 sit flush against the bottom (36) of the plank and thereby takes up minimal space during storage and transportation, thus allowing easier stacking of the planks (shown in Figures 9 and 10).
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

I Claim:

1. A safety cleat for a scaffold plank, the scaffold plank having a top side, bottom side, opposing outer lateral end portions and front and rear side edges, said safety cleat comprising opposing side arms connected to each other by a cross piece, said side arms each pivotally attachable to the front and rear side edges respectively of the plank, and when so pivotally attached to the plank, the cleat is pivotal about a pivot axis from a first position whereat the cross piece is positioned outwardly of the pivot axis and an upper edge of the cross piece abuts the bottom side of the plank and thereby prevents outward pivoting of the cleat to a storage position whereat the cross piece sits flush with the bottom surface of the plank.