CA2639626A1 - Improved scaffold bracket system - Google Patents

Description

My invention relates to improved scaffold brackets, used mostly with frame scaffold, especially but not exclusively for use with masonry frame scaffold. The main objective of the invention is to make lifting foot (working) planks to the next level much easier, faster, and safer as the design prohibits any horizontal movement which is normally exhibited by prior art. The speed at which the bracket can move to the next working level is cut in half therefore increasing productivity and almost eliminating downtime when lifting the working level.
Another objective is to have a corner bracket with this same innovative gravity locking system that can be used for both sides of a scaffold. Where wood plank supports are swivel able left and right to accommodate a left and right side of a scaffold section.
The main innovative feature within the bracket system is the cantilever locking system, which can be incorporated into the two designated forms shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 but another use for fast moment to the next level archived by the cantilever system can be used to improve the "bakers" scaffold which is displayed in Figure 3.
Other important objects and advantageous features of any invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein for present purpose of illustration only, specific embodiments of the invention are set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a standard scaffold bracket sliding up a scaffold frame Figure 2 is a perspective view of a corner scaffold bracket sliding up a scaffold fiame Figure 3 is a perspective view of a single bakers scaffold unit Figure 4 is a zoomed in cross section perspective view of the bakers scaffold unit Referring to the drawings in detail, in Figure 1 the numeral I generally designates a support which carries the foot planks hereon and can be telescopically adjustable or specifically set at any size to accommodate one two or three foot planks, and attached at one end of the support shall be 2 a stopper which will prevent planks from sliding forward and falling off, the other end of the support will be fully welded to 8 the main part which contacts 18 the vertical scaffold frame conforming to its curve to evenly distribute load along the frame and to slide along the frame smoothly, whereas 7 is a continued part of 8 on both sides where on one side the extended plate is a stopper which doesn't allow 5 to continue around w41en dropped in place onto 17 the horizontal part of the scaffold &ame, and whereas 6 are contoured sides of 5 that conform ergonomically to the scaffold &ames 17 horizontal and 18 vertical members, in which 5 is trapped between the opposite side of 7 rotating and moving freely hereon 4 a solid cylindrical piece which is connected to the 7/8 part by a full weld in which 5 rotates upon 4 and is connected by a piece to 3 a weight which is heavier than 5 when placed a certain distance away from 5 so to keep 5 and 3 which are connected together always in the locked position stopped by 7 on the opposite side from rotating futther.
When the entire bracket is moved up to the next level when the top of part 5 contacts the bottom of 17 the horizontal scaffold frame 5 will rotate upon 4 and move out of the way to allow the bracket to be moved upwards and past 17 the horizontal scaffold frame member, once past 17 the horizontal frame member 3 which is connected to 5 drops back to the locked position due to the cantilever where 3 is heavier than 5, the bracket can now be let back down to achieve the lift to the next level.
To remove the bracket from 17, and 18 the scaffold frame, first the bracket must be slightly lifted and 3 the weight connected to 5 must be manually lifted until 5 reaches a vertical position parallel to 18 the vertical scaffold frame member, then the bracket may be easily removed, and in this same manner of rotating 5 until vertically parallel with 18 can the bracket be installed to the frame.

In Figure 2 number I generally designates a support which carries the foot planks hereon and can be telescopicalty adjustable or specifically set at any size to accommodate one two or three foot planks, and attached at one end of the support shall be 2 a stopper which will prevent planks from sliding forward and falling off, at the end of the supports I at the opposite side that 2 is installed shall be 10 a cylindrical member which continues down throughout the entire vertical of the bracket, along this cylindrical piece are connected by means of a full weld 11 four cylindrical pieces that are telescopically larger than 10, these pieces trap in place 13, and 9 both of which are free and when connected to scaffold frame allow 10 along with all its connected parts to rotate freely until locked to a right or left side of scaffold position by 12 a pin which travels through pre-drilled holes and locks for safety and desired position, parts 8 and 9 are the bottom support of the bracket which allow the bracket to slide up 18 the vertical member of the scaffold frame and hold the bracket in place when in use, 8 being the main part which contacts the scaffold frame also conforms to 18 the vertical scaffold frames contour to distribute weight evenly and wrap the fi-ame ergonomically, 6 is a contour within 5 which is the main support of the bracket being held to 17 the horizontal scaffold member,14 are two cylindrical pieces welded to 4 that are telescopically larger than 4, these pieces trap and allow to rotate within the horizontal piece of 13 a piece that is telescopically larger than 4, 5 with the contour of 6 is connected to horizontal part of 13 and 3 the weight all as one unit rotating upon 4 trapped by 14, rotating unit 5, 3, and horizontal 13 are prevented from over rotating by 7 a stopper which will contact a part of 3 to stop it from rotating completely when bracket is raised to next level.
To raise bracket to next level the bracket must be slid up 18 the vertical scaffold member until 5 along with its connected parts 13 and 3 contact 17 the next horizontal member, the unit will rotate among 4 until it has cleared the scaffold member 17, once this happens 3 the weight within its unit activates the cantilever effect to spin the unit back to the up position and will be stopped by 7 the stopper at the optimal position that it can be again engaged with 17 horizontal scaffold member.

In Figure 3 and Figure 4, 16 is the platform that a worker stands on, the platform is connected to 8 any shaped preferably a square tube which is telescopically larger than 18 the vertical scaffold member, also taking any shape but preferably square, this telescoping piece 8 is connected by a full weld on one side to 4 the round rod which 3 the cantilever weight is connected to 13 the telescopically larger than 4 rotating piece and 5 the wedge block as a solid unit rotate hereon, trapping the 3, 13, and 5 unit is 8 on the other side which is also attached by a full weld and that horizontally telescoping piece 8 is again connected to the platform 16 on the other side, the unit 3, 13, and 5 which rotate upon 4 locks when the entire platform 16 which is connected to 8 on both sides of 4, is dropped onto 17 the horizontal scaffold bracket, 5 along with its cantilever weight 3 wedges between 17 and 16 locking the platform 16 at that desired working level.
The working level platform 16 should have but is not limited to or required to have at all four corners two vertically parallel scaffold niembers 18 evenly spaced apart to accommodate 17 horizontally spaced scaffold members spaced at desirable working heights, and around both vertical members 18 but not to intrude on the horizontal members 17 when traveling vertically shall be attached 8 the sliders for vertical travel, the sliders 8 are attached by full weld to 16 the working platform.
To lift the platform to the next working height the platform 16 must be raised from the middle of one end, when the 3, 13, and 5 unit meets the bottom of the next working level horizontal scaffold member 17 it will rotate among 4 until it is parallel with 18 and allows the entire platform unit to pass 17 the desired horizontal working level, once the tip of the 3, 13, and 5 unit pass 17 the horizontal member 3 the weigbt will swivel back until it is stopped by 16 the platform, the unit is now in the locked position and can be dropped onto the horizontal scaffold member 17 to work on, repeat the same procedure for the opposite side.
To lower the platform 16 to the desired working level the 3, 13, and 5 unit must be raised by 3 the weight until 5 the wedge becomes vertically parallel with 18 the vertical scaffold member and passes 17 the previously used horizontal working level, the weights 3 can then be dropped for the 3, 13, and 5 unit to lock in contact with 16 the platform by the cantilever effect while holding the platform, the entire platform can then be dropped onto the desired horizontal scaffold meniber 17, repeat this procedure for the opposite side.

Claims