GB2189536A

GB2189536A - Scaffold platforms

Info

Publication number: GB2189536A
Application number: GB08709391A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Thomas Collier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-04-23
Filing date: 1987-04-21
Publication date: 1987-10-28
Also published as: GB8709391D0; GB8609877D0; GB2189536B

Abstract

A portable scaffold platform usable to support a person in an elevated disposition, has a base 10 linked via pivot joints 13 to a pair of end frames 3. Each end frame 3 has a pair of hollow legs 11 interconnected via cross pieces 8, 9 with the base 10 being pivoted to the lower cross pieces 8. Spring- loaded catches 30 automatically hold the legs 11 upstanding relative to the base but can be released to enable the frames to be swung down onto the base 10. The frame legs 11 receive further support legs 12 in telescopic manner and clamping device 20 serve to lock the respective legs 11, 12 at any desired position to adjust the elevation of the base 10. Rail components 18, 19 pivoted to the frame legs 11 can be interengaged and locked together with releasable locking mechanisms 42 with the apparatus erected. The upper cross pieces 9 and the rail components 18, 19 then providing safety rails for a person working from the base. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in platforms The present invention relates to apparatus for providing a portable platform for supporting a person in a elevated position, usually for use in interior decorating or the like.

In one aspect the present invention provides apparatus as aforesaid which has a base providing a supportive surface for a person during use, a pair of frames pivotably connected to the base, catches for automatically locking the frames selectively in an erected position substantially upstanding relative to the base, the catches being manually operable to release the frames and permit pivotal movement relative to the base to enable the apparatus to adopt a collapsed folded disposition for transport or storage, a plurality of support legs for supporting the frames and the base in an elevated position and clamping means connecting the legs and the frames to permit the base to be adjusted in height.

Each frame may be composed of pair of legs and upper and lower cross pieces extending therebetween, the base being connected with pivot joints to the lower cross pieces of the frames. The support legs may then slidably engage inside the frame legs. Rail components may pivotably connect to the frame legs. The rail components of the respective frames may then connect together so that these linked rail components and the upper cross pieces of the frames provide safety rails some way above the base.

In another aspect the present invention provides apparatus as aforesaid which comprises a base providing a supportive surface for a person during use, means pivotably connecting the base to the lower portions of the outermost parts of four multi-part telescopic leg structures which rest of a ground or floor surface, means for selectively clamping the respective telescopic parts of the leg structures together to bring the base into some adjustable elevation, releasable means for holding the leg structures in an upstanding erected disposition relative to the base or for permitting the leg structures to be pivoted onto the base to enable the apparatus to adopt a collapsed folded disposition for transport or storage and means for providing safety rails surrounding the upper regions of the leg structures above the base when the leg structures are in the erected disposition.

In a further aspect, apparatus as aforesaid comprises a rectangular base structure providing a supportive surface for a person during use, means pivotably connecting the base to four hollow frame legs disposed generally at the corners of said base, four support legs for resting on a ground or floor surface, the support legs being slidably received within the frame legs and means for selectively clamping each of the support legs to its associated frame leg to bring the base into an adjustable elevation and releasable means for holding the frame legs in a upstanding erected disposition relative to the base or for permitting the frame legs to be pivoted onto the base to enable the apparatus to adopt a collapsed folded disposition for transport or storage.

The invention may be understood more readily and various other aspects and features of the invention may become apparent from consideration of the following description.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective diagrammatic representation of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line Il-Il of Fig. 1, the view being on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2; Figure 4 is a part-sectional diagrammatic representation of part of one of the longitudinal safety rails of the apparatus, the view being taken on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a part-sectional end view taken in the direction of arrow V in Fig. 1, the view being on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the catches of the apparatus.

Fig. 1 depicts apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention in its erected state. As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus can be considered as a main frame 2 which can be generally raised and lowered (in the directions of arrows A and B) in relation to four upstanding support legs 12. The apparatus is rendered mobile with the aid of wheels 16 mounted at the lower ends of the legs 12. As illustrated, the wheels 16 are rotatably mounted on spigots 27 pivotably supported by the legs 12 and levers 17 serve to lock the wheels 16 selectively to prevent their rotation. Thus, with the apparatus in a desired location the wheels 16 can be immobilized.

The main frame 2 is itself composed of end frames 3 each of which take the form of a pair of legs 11 slidably mounted on the associated pair of legs 12 and cross pieces 8, 9 rigidly fixed between the legs 11. The lower cross-pieces 8 are pivotably connected with pivot joints 13 to a base 10. The base 10 takes the form of a stout rectangular wooden board 5 reinforced on its underside with beams 6 extending longitudinally of the board 5. As illustrated the pivot joints 13 take the form of sleeves or shackles 7 with eyes at least partly surrounding the lower cross pieces 8. The shackles 7 have depending portions 56 which rigidly engage with the base 10 to sus pend the base 10 from the cross pieces 8 and permit pivotal movement in the direction of arrows C.The lower cross piece 8 of one frame 3 is made slightly higher than that of the other frame to permit the frames 3 to stack one on the other over the base 10. To compensate for this offset, the depending portions 56 of the shackles 7 have a differential relative to the base 10 from one end frame 3 to the other as shown in Fig. 1. Lugs 1 on the cross pieces 8 lie adjacent the shackles 7 and prevent lateral displacement of the base 10 relative to the frames 3. The base 10 is selectively locked in a position perpendicular to the legs 11 with the aid of spring-loaded catches 30 which inter-engage with locking pins 31 projecting downwardly from the base 10. The pins 31 can be integral with the depending portions 56 of the shackles 7' at the corner regions of the base 10.

The upper cross pieces 9 constitute end safety rails and the apparatus employs further longitudinal safety rails 15 at the same level as the cross pieces 9. These rails 15 are composed of separate components 18, 19 individually pivotably connected to the legs 11.

The rail components 18, 19 are also provided with releasable locking mechanisms 42 which can be released to permit the components 18, 19 to swing down alongside the legs 11.

Spring clips or some other devices (not shown) can be used to hold and retain the rail components 18, 19 alongside the legs 11.

With the rail components 18, 19 thus stowed alongside the legs 11 the catches 30 can be actuated to release the pins 31 and this permits the end frames 9 and the legs 12 to be swung inwardly alongside the base 10. By folding the apparatus up in this fashion the apparatus can be more easily transported or stored. Straps or the like can be provided on the base 10 or elsewhere to permit the collapsed apparatus to be carried around.

The legs 11, 12 form telescopic structures and each leg can be moved along its associated leg 12 to a desired height and locked with the aid of a clamping device 20 operated with a lever 29 or the like. This enables the base 10 to be brought into a desired elevated position, say to enable an operator to reach a ceiling. The pairs of telescopic legs 11, 12 can be adjusted independently and this allows the apparatus to be erected on stairs or where the ground or floor is not level. It is helpful to have some visual indicia (55 Fig. 1) on the upper regions of the legs 12 which registers with the upper ends of the legs 11 and enables an operator to gauge the height settings. The legs 11, 12 are conveniently of square or rectangular hollow cross-section made from metal such as aluminium although the legs 12 can be solid and made from a different material such as wood.The cross pieces 9, 8 are conveniently made of round tubing or bars while the rail components 18, 19 are hollow and conveniently made from round tubing.

The construction of the catches 30, locking mechanisms 42 and clamping devices 20 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 2 to 6. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each clamping device 20 takes the form of a plate 21 fixed as by welding to a lower region of an outer end face 23 of one of the legs 11. A second plate 22 locates in a cutout portion 25 at a region of an opposite inner face 24 of the leg 11. Bolts 26 or the like locates between the plates 20, 21 and one of these bolts is in screw-threaded engagement with the associated lever 29. Tightening or loosening of the lever 29 causes the plates 20, 21 to be urged together or apart to clamp the internal leg 12 to the leg 12. Wing nuts or other manually operable parts can be used instead of the levers 29.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6 each catch 30 is composed of a pair of generally Lshaped plates 32, 33 with flanges 34 fixed as by welding to a lower region of an inner side face 28 of an associated leg 11. A gap 35 is provided between the plates 32, 33 and a trapping element 36 is mounted in the gap 35. The element 36 is pivoted to the plates 32, 33 by means of a pivot pin 38 disposed on transverse projections 37 of the plates 32, 33. A web can link the projections 37 together. The element 36 can move in the gap 35 about the pivot pin 38. The element 36 is provided with an outer lever portion 43, an intermediate recess 39 and an inclined cam face 45 which leads from the recess 39 to a distal end 40 of the element 36 remote from the portion 43.A tension spring 44 is connected between the portion 43 and one of the plates 32, 33 to bias the element 36 into an outer operating position where its recess 39 or the recess 39 in combination with side edges of the plates 32, 33 provide a trapping pocket 41 for the associated pin 31. During use, when the end frame 9 is being swung in to an upstanding position the pins 31 are engaged on the cam faces 45 of the elements 36. The elements 36 are thence displaced by the pins 31 progressively inwardly against the spring force until the pins 31 enter the recesses 39 whereupon the elements 36 are urged outwardly by the springs 44 to trap the pins 31 in the pockets 41. Manual pressure on the lever portions 43 can displace the elements 36 against the spring force to permit release of the pins 31 when the apparatus is to be collapsed.

As shown in Fig. 4, each locking mechanism 42 is composed of a slide piece 48 mounted in one of the components 18 and biased outwardly with a compression spring 50 to locate within the other component 19 where the components 18, 19 are in alignment. A cross-pin 46 on the slide piece 48 engages in a slot 47 in the wall of the component 18 and abuts one of the outer ends 51 of the slot 47. The pin 46 permits the slide piece 48 to be moved within the component 18 against spring force to withdraw the slide piece 48 from the other component 19. An enlarged region 41 at the inner end region of the slot 47 can accomodate the pin 46.

Longitudinal and transverse movements of the pin 46 and the slide piece 48 can bring the pin 46 into the region 41 to maintain the slide piece 48 retracted in the rail component 18 when the apparatus is to be collapsed.

Release of the pin 46, when the rail components 18, 19 are aligned, will cause the slide piece 46 to spring outwards to lock the components 18, 19 together.

In a practical construction the overall size of the base 10 is around 4 or 5 feet long and 2 feet wide. The base 10 can be brought into various height positions up to typically 5 feet above ground level but with the base 10 in a relatively high position it is helpful to use a detachable foot rest 60 to permit an operator to climb on and off the the base 10 from the ground. As shown particularly in Fig. 5, the foot rest 60 has a plate 14 with a U-shaped end 52 which hooks over one of the bolts 26. A bar 54 is pivotably mounted with a pivot joint 4 to a bracket 53 fixed to the lower end of the plate 14. The bar 54 can be swung against the plate 51 when not in use or pivoted out to lock against a stop on the bracket 53 in perpendicular relationship to the plate 51 as shown.

The disposition of the wheels 16 outside the axes of the legs 11, 12 assists in maintaining stability but in cases where the base 10 is disposed in a position which is relatively high, additional straps (not shown) may be fastened in a detachable manner between the lower ends of the legs 12 in order to prevent these from moving apart.

In a modified construction, the base 10 and at least some of the rail components 18, 19 are composed of two inter-locking telescopic sections which can be moved together and apart to adjust the overall length of the apparatus. The base 10 can also be composed of a framework onto which separate planks or boards would be placed.

The overall apparatus is particularly versatile in that the frame 2 can be readily adjusted in the height direction (arrows A and B) by releasing the clamps 20 and sliding the legs 11 up and down on the stationary legs 12 and the apparatus can be moved around on the wheels 16. The apparatus can be easily dismantled by releasing the rail components 18, 19 and the catches 30 and by swinging the frames 3 about the pivots 13 and the apparatus can be brought into a non-operative stowed position with the frames 3 collapsed and folded against the base 10. When collapsed, the apparatus can then be carried from place to place and stored for use.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing a portable platform for supporting a person in an elevated position; said apparatus comprising a base providing a supportive surface for a person during use, a pair of frames pivotably connected to the base, catches for automatically locking the frames selectively in an erected position substantially upstanding relative to the base, the catches being manually operable to release the frames and permit pivotal movement relative to the base to enable the apparatus to adopt a collapsed folded disposition for transport or storage, a plurality of support legs for supporting the frames and the base in an elevated position and clamping means connecting the legs and the frames to permit the base to be adjusted in height.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each frame is composed of a pair of legs and upper and lower cross pieces extending therebetween, the base being connected with pivot joints to the lower cross pieces of the frames.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support legs are slidably mounted within the frame legs.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pivot joints take the form of shackles engaging the lower cross pieces of the frames and suspending the base therebeneath.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frames have rail components which are disposed above the base, the rail components of the respective frames being releasably interconnected.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein rail components are pivotably connected to the frame legs, the rail components of the respective frames being connectible so that the rail components and the upper cross pieces combine to form safety rails disposed above the base.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, and further comprising releasable locking mechanisms for connecting the rail components of the respective frames together.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, 6 or 7 and further comprising means for releasably retaining the rail components against the frames.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the catches have spring-loaded, manually-releasable locking elements which automatically trap locking pins provided on the base when the frames adopt the erected position.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the support legs have lockable wheels or rollers at their lower ends for rendering the apparatus mobile.

11. Apparatus for providing a portable platform for supporting a person in an ele vated position; said apparatus comprising a rectangular base structure providing a supportive surface for a person during use, means pivotably connecting the base to four hollow frame legs disposed generally at the corners of said base, four support legs for resting on a ground or floor surface, the support legs being slidably received within the frame legs and means for selectively and independently clamping each of the support legs to its associated frame leg to bring the base into an adjustable elevation and orientation and releasable means for holding the frame legs in a generally upstanding erected disposition relative to the base or for permitting the frame legs to be pivoted onto the base to enable the apparatus to adopt a collapsed folded disposition for transport or storage.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the releasable means comprises spring-loaded catches adapted to automatically lock the frame legs in the erected disposition.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the respective pairs of frame legs are interconnected by upper and lower cross pieces to form end frames and pivotable rail components are provided on the frame legs which can be in generally alignment with the upper cross pieces, the rail components being provided with releasable locking mechanisms permitting the components to be locked together when the frame legs are in the erected disposition to combine with the upper cross pieces to provide safety rails disposed above the base.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 and further comprising means for releasably holding the rail components on the frame legs when the apparatus is in the collapsed folded disposition.

15. Apparatus for providing a portable platform for supporting a person in an elevated position; said apparatus comprising: a base providing a supportive surface for a person during use, means pivotably connecting the base to the lower portions of the outer most parts of four multi-part telescopic leg structures which rest of a ground or floor surface, means for selectively clamping the re spective telescopic parts of the leg structures together to bring the base into some adjustable elevation, releasable means for holding the leg structures in an upstanding erected disposition relative to the base or for permitting the leg structures to be pivoted onto the base to enable the apparatus to adopt a col lapsed folded disposition for transport or sto rage and means for providing safety rails sur rounding the upper regions of the leg struc tures above the base when the leg structures are in the erected disposition.

16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a sepa rate foot rest which can be detachably locked to the apparatus to assist a person in climbing on and off the base.

17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and further comprising straps or other means for carrying the apparatus when in the collapsed disposition.

18. Apparatus substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in any one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.