Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
  • E04G1/00—Scaffolds primarily resting on the ground
  • E04G1/15—Scaffolds primarily resting on the ground essentially comprising special means for supporting or forming platforms; Platforms
  • E04G1/152—Platforms made of metal or with metal-supporting frame
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
  • E04G1/00—Scaffolds primarily resting on the ground
  • E04G1/15—Scaffolds primarily resting on the ground essentially comprising special means for supporting or forming platforms; Platforms
  • E04G1/153—Platforms made of plastics, with or without reinforcement
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
  • E04G1/00—Scaffolds primarily resting on the ground
  • E04G1/15—Scaffolds primarily resting on the ground essentially comprising special means for supporting or forming platforms; Platforms
  • E04G1/154—Non-detachably fixed and secured connections between platform and scaffold

Definitions

• the main body includes at least two notches formed therein.
• the notches are sized and configured to receive respective ones of the arms of another end connector in a nesting fashion, thus allowing the end connectors of two adjacent scaffold planks to be cooperatively engaged to a common support bar of the scaffolding frame.
• an aperture which may be coaxially aligned with a pair of apertures disposed within the plank when the attachment finger is fully advanced into the interior cavity thereof.
• These coaxially aligned apertures are adapted to receive an elongate pin which, when advanced through the apertures and secured to the plank, maintains the end connector in firm engagement to the plank.
• the plank itself may further be provided with a non-slip texture which is formed directly within the outer, top surface of the top wall thereof.
• Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a scaffold plank constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2A is a front perspective view of the end cap of the scaffold plank of the first embodiment of the present invention, the rear perspective view of the end cap being shown in Figure 2;
• Figure 3 is a partial top perspective, cut-away view of a scaffold plank constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 7 is a top perspective view of a steel reinforcement plate of the end connector shown in Figures 5 and 6;
• Figures 8 and 9 are top perspective views illustrating the manner in which the scaffold planks of the third embodiment including the end connectors shown in Figures 5-7 are interfaced to a support frame structure;
• Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which scaffold planks of the third embodiment and the corresponding end connectors may be interfaced to a support frame structure in side-by-side relation, and further illustrating an optional corner connector which may be used in conjunction with the scaffold planks of the third embodiment;
• Figure 11 is top perspective view of a scaffold plank constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention having a pair of end connectors cooperatively engaged to respective ones of the opposed ends thereof;
• Figure 12 is bottom perspective view of the scaffold plank shown in Figure
• Figure 13 is top perspective view of the scaffold plank of the fourth embodiment similar to Figure 11 5 but further illustrating one of the end connectors as partially exploded from one end of the scaffold plank;
• Figure 14 is bottom perspective view of the scaffold plank shown in Figure 13;
• Figure 15 is top plan view of the scaffold plank of the fourth embodiment similar to Figure 13, but further illustrating one of the end connectors as fully exploded from one end of the scaffold plank;
• Figure 16 is side perspective view of one end of the scaffold plank of the fourth embodiment with the corresponding end connector removed therefrom;
• Figure 17 is top plan view of a connector pin which is used to secure each of the end connectors to the scaffold plank of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 perspectively illustrates a scaffold plank 10 constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
• the scaffold plank 10 has an elongate, generally rectangular configuration and includes a main body 12 which defines opposed ends. Attached to the respective ones of the opposed ends of the main body 12 is a pair of identically configured end caps 14, the precise structural attributes of which will be described in more detail below.
• the preferred height or thickness of the scaffold plank 10 is in the range of from about 1.0 inch to about 2.50 inches, and is preferably about 1.50 inches.
• the preferred width of the scaffold plank 10 is in the range of from about 6.0 inches to about 15.0 inches, and is preferably about 9.50 inches.
• the overall length of the scaffold plank 10 (including the main body 12 and end caps 14) is variable. In this respect, it is contemplated that the scaffold plank 10 may be provided to have an overall length of either 6 feet, 9 feet, 12 feet, or 16 feet. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the scaffold plank 10 of the present invention may be fabricated to have length, width, and/or height dimensions differing from those described above.
• the scaffold plank 10 may be provided with two pairs of pre-formed nail holes 16, with each pair of the nail holes 16 being disposed within the body 12 in relative close proximity to a respective one of the end caps 14.
• the main body 12 of the scaffold plank may be formed to include a spaced pair of arcuately contoured, concave frame setting notches 18 in the underside or bottom surface 20 thereof.
• the nail holes 16 and/or frame setting notches 18, if included, are preferably formed in the main body 12 via finishing operations conducted subsequent to the fabrication of the main body 12.
• the nail holes 16 and/or frame setting notches 18 are used to facilitate the engagement or interface of the scaffold plank 10 to a conventional steel frame support structure of a scaffolding system.
• ribs 32 formed on the inner surface of the top wall 22 and extending longitudinally therealong in spaced, generally parallel relation to each other are seven (7) ribs 32.
• ribs 34 formed on and extending longitudinally along the inner surface of the bottom wall 26 in spaced, generally parallel relation to each other are seven (7) ribs 34 which are disposed in opposed, aligned relation to respective ones of the ribs 32.
• the ribs 32, 34 extend generally perpendicularly from the inner surfaces of the top and bottom walls 22, 26, respectively.
• the top, bottom and sidewalls 22, 26, 28 and ribs 32, 34 extending within the outermost pair of cavities collectively form a pair of slots which are each adapted to accommodate an elongate, rectangularly configured reinforcement bar 36.
• each of the reinforcement bars 36 is preferably sized such that when disposed within the interior of the main body 12 in the above-described manner, the opposed ends thereof do not protrude beyond respective ones of the opposed ends of the main body 12.
• the attachment tabs 44 are arranged in two sets of four, with the attachment tabs 44 of each set being disposed in spaced relation to each other along a respective one of the longitudinal sides of the channel 42. Additionally, the attachment tabs 44 of one set are disposed in opposed, linear alignment with respective ones of the attachment tabs 44 of the other set. Importantly, the attachment tabs 44 are oriented so as to be advanceable into respective ones of the cavities defined within the main body 12 and not interfere with any of the reinforcement webs 30 thereof.
• attachment tabs 44 are sized and configured such that when each opposed pair thereof is received into a respective one of the cavities of the main body 12, those edges of the attachment tabs 44 disposed furthest from the channel 42 are in abutting contact with the inner surfaces of respective ones of the top and bottom walls 22, 26 of the main body 12.
• each of the end caps 14 may be sonically welded to the main body 12, or may alternatively be attached to the main body 12 through the use of fasteners such as pins, snap fit, or an adhesive.
• fasteners such as pins, snap fit, or an adhesive.
• the end caps 14 are sized relative to the main body 12 such that when attached thereto, the longitudinal sides of the end caps 14 are substantially flush with the bottom surface 20 of the bottom wall 26 and top surface 24 of the top wall 22, with the lateral sides of the end caps 14 being substantially flush with respective ones of the outer surfaces of the sidewalls 28.
• Both the main body 12 and end caps 14 of the scaf ⁇ bid plank 10 are preferably fabricated from a plastic material.
• a preferred plastic material is a ten percent to fifty percent glass-filled polypropylene/nylon blend. Such plastic material may alternatively comprise either virgin or recycled plastic. It is contemplated that the plastic or nylon material may be filled with either glass or another suitable reinforcement material to increase the structural integrity/rigidity thereof.
• the main body 12 and end caps 14 need not necessarily be fabricated from identical materials. In this respect, each of the end caps 14 could be fabricated from a metallic material such as aluminum.
• each of the reinforcement bars 36 is preferably fabricated from steel.
• the main body 12 of the scaffold plank 10 is preferably fabricated via an extrusion process. If one or more reinforcement bars 36 is to be included within the interior of the main body 12, it is preferred that the plastic material used to form the main body 12 will be extruded about the reinforcement bar(s) 36. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the reinforcement bars 36 may be inserted into the interior of the main body 12 via a separate procedure which is conducted subsequent to the formation of the main body 12 via the extrusion process.
• the end caps 14 are preferably fabricated through the use of an injection molding or vacuum forming process and, as indicated above, secured to respective ones of the opposed ends of the main body 12 subsequent to the fabrication of the same.
• the scaffold plank 100 also has an elongate, generally rectangular configuration and includes a main body having a top wall 104 which defines a top surface 106, an opposed pair of longitudinally extending sidewalls 108 which are integrally connected to the top wall 104, and an opposed pair of end walls 110 which are integrally connected to the top and sidewalls 104, 108 and define respective ones of the opposed ends of the scaffold plank 100.
• the main body 102 of the scaffold plank 100 is formed to include four (4) channel members 112 which are integrally connected to the inner surface of the top wall 104 and extend longitudinally therealong in spaced, generally parallel relation to each other.
• the outermost pair of channel members 112 each has a generally L-shaped configuration and, in addition to being integrally connected to the inner surface of the top wall 104, are integrally connected to the inner surfaces of respective ones of the sidewalls 108.
• the central two channel members 112 each have a generally U-shaped configuration and are integrally connected to only the inner surface of the top wall 104.
• each of the primary reinforcement webs 116 is disposed equidistantly between an adjacent pair of channel members 1 12 and extends in generally parallel relation thereto.
• a plurality of secondary reinforcement webs 118 Integrally connected to and extending angularly between each of the primary reinforcement webs 116 and the channel members 112 of the corresponding pair are a plurality of secondary reinforcement webs 118 which are also integrally connected to the inner surface of the top wall 104 and extend generally perpendicularly relative thereto.
• the channel members 112 and primary and secondary reinforcement webs 1 16, 1 18 are each sized and configured such that the distal surfaces thereof (i.e., those surfaces disposed furthest from the inner surface of the top wall 104) and are oriented inwardly from the distal edges of the sidewalls 108 and end walls 110 (or end caps 14) of the main body 102.
• the distal edges of the side and end walls 108, 110 of the main body 102 protrude slightly outwardly from the distal surfaces of the channel members 112 and primary and secondary reinforcement webs 1 16, 118 for reasons which will be described in more detail below.
• the cover member 120 when attached to the main body 102, does not protrude beyond the side and end walls 108, 110 of the main body 102, the overall length, width and height dimensions of the scaffold plank 100 are governed by the main body 102 thereof. Though not shown, it is contemplated that a sealing strip will be compressed between the cover member 120 and the main body 102 when the cover member 120 is attached to the main body 102. In the second embodiment, the preferred height or thickness of the main body
• the main body 102 of the scaffold plank 100 is dependent upon the level of structural integrity or rigidity desired in relation thereto. Additionally, though the main body 102 is shown as including four (4) channel members 112 and three (3) primary reinforcement webs 116, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the main body 102 may be formed to include greater or fewer channel members 112 and/or primary reinforcement webs 116.
• the top surface 106 of the top wall 104 may be subjected to a follow-up grinding or machining operation subsequent to the molding of the main body 102 for purposes of applying a texture or roughened feature thereto.
• the outer surface of the cover member 120 may also be formed to include a texture or roughened feature.
• the main body 102 and the cover member 120 are preferably fabricated via an injection molding process, it is contemplated that either or both of the main body 102 and cover member 120 may be fabricated via a vacuum forming or extrusion process. Additionally, though not shown, it is contemplated that the previously described nail holes 16 and/or frame setting notches
• Figures 8 and 9 depict the manner in which a pair of scaffold planks 200 which each include the end connectors 202 attached to each of the opposed ends thereof are interfaced to a horizontal support bar 254 of a scaffolding support frame 256.
• the end connector 202 is engaged to the support bar 254 such that the arms 226 extend about the support bar 254. More particularly, the outer surface of the support bar 254 is abutted directly against the arcuate body surface 222 of the main body 220 and against the arms surfaces 228 of the arms 226.
• the corner connector 260 includes an opposed pair of side edges, each of which is formed to include an arcuate, generally concave engagement surface 262, a plurality of arms 264, and a plurality of notches 266.
• the engagement surface 262, arms 264 and notches 266 of each side edge are structurally and functionally identical to the body surface 222, notches 224, and arms 226 of each end connector 202.
• the scaffold plank 300 of the fourth embodiment will be fabricated in its entirety from a non-metal material via an extrusion or injection molding process.
• Exemplary materials for the scaffold plank 300 include various types of plastics (e.g., glass-filled polyethylene), fiber reinforced composites, or combinations thereof.
• the extrusion process preferably used to facilitate the formation of the scaffold plank 300 may be carried out in a manner wherein various portions of the scaffold plank 300 are fabricated from a fiber reinforced plastic or composite, with other portions simply being fabricated from a non-reinforced plastic material.
• the outer surface of the top wall 304 is preferably formed to have a roughened or textured feature to provide the scaffold plank 300 with non-slip characteristics. More particularly, it is contemplated that prescribed areas of the outer surface of the top wall 302 will be formed to include the roughened, textured feature, such feature being provided as three elongate textured strips 319 which extend longitudinally along the outer surface of the top wall 304 in spaced, generally parallel relation to each other. In this regard, two of the textured strips 319 extend along and in spaced relation to respective ones of the longitudinal sides or edges of the top wall 304, with the third, remaining textured strip 319 extending substantially intermediate the outer pair of textured strips 319.
• the reinforcement plate 344 includes a pair of arcuate reinforcement arms which are extensible into the interiors of respective ones of the arms 326. Since the end connector 302 is preferably fabricated via an injection molding process, it is contemplated that the reinforcement plate 344 will initially be included in the mold cavity, with the plastic material used to form the remainder of the end connector 302 being injected into the mold cavity in a manner effectively encapsulating the reinforcement plate 344 in the manner similar to that shown in Figure 6 in relation to an end connector 202.
• one pin 350 is advanced through the coaxially aligned apertures 331 of the end connector 302, and the coaxially aligned apertures 317 of the corresponding set of the scaffold plank 300.
• the advancement of the pin 350 through such coaxially aligned apertures 317, 331 is continued until such time as the head 352 of the pin 350 is abutted against the outer surface of one of the side walls 308 of the scaffold plank 300.
• planks formed in accordance with the present invention may be used in applications other than for scaffolding.
• the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.

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• 2007
  • 2007-06-06 US US11/759,058 patent/US20070289813A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-06-07 WO PCT/US2007/013403 patent/WO2007146056A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-06-07 CA CA002658825A patent/CA2658825A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2007-06-07 EP EP07795843A patent/EP2029833A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-06-07 AU AU2007258627A patent/AU2007258627A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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