US2299823A - Adjustable scaffolding - Google Patents

Description

Oct.27, 19 T. c. JUCULANO ETAL ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLDING Filed Aug. 14, 1941 INVENTOM Y Ja 2 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1942 s PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE SCAFFOLDING Theodor Charles Juculano and John E. Follett, Oshkosh, Wis.

Application August 14, 1941, SerlalNo. 406,774

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable scaffolding, and more particularly to adjustable horses or supports for scaffolding and staging.

In construction, maintenance, and repair work it is usually necessary for contractors to employ scaffolding to support the workmen in a convenient, elevated position. Where ordinary wooden scaffolding is employed, which scaffolding has to be erected from miscellaneous lumber on the job, there is considerable expense and loss of time. While it is recognized that adjustable permanent scaffolding, which can be dismantled and used in various locations has heretofore been proposed, such scaffolding has been formed of heavy tubular stock and has been relatively expensive so that its use by the small contractor wasnot practical.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved typeof scaffolding including. permanent relatively light-weight and inexpensive metal leg members, which can be quickly assembled and adjusted by a single workman to form a safe, firm, and rigid support.

.A more specific object of the invention is to provide scaffolding as above described wherein each of the leg members-is formed or relatively slidable sections and is provided with simple and novel means for rigidly maintaining such sections in a desired extended relationship.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein one of the slidable sections of each leg is in the form of a channel, and wherein the other section is T-shaped in cross-section to provide for effective sliding cooperation while insuring strength for each section and for the leg in its entirety.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved scafiolding including leg members which are equipped with improved means for clampingly cooperating ina simple manner with longitudinal connecting beams and with transverse beams, whereby a four legged support possessing strength and rigidity can be quickly erected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein each legmember has an elongated brace pivotally connected thereto, said braces being cooperable in final assembly, preferably in crossed and angularly extending relationship to produce additional strength and rigidity."

,A further object of the invention is to provide improved scaffolding wherein the clamps for the longitudinal connecting beams are carried by lower end portions of the leg extension sections, so that the position of said connecting beams is automatically raised according to the adjusted height of the assembly toprovide longitudinal bracing at a correct point intermediate the height of the leg assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved scaffolding wherein the longitudinal connecting beams may be employed, if desired, to support a relatively low platform, and wherein the higher transverse beams may be employed to support a high platform, according to the particular requirements.

Other objects of the invention are to provide improved scaffolding which can be erected almost entirely without the use of tools; which may include the use of metal prongs adapted to become embedded into the longitudinal connecting beams when the latter are clamped in position; which is constructed so as to be readily adjustable to compensate for uneven ground; which can be easily dismantled for transportation or storage in compact form; and which is well adapted for use by carpenters, millwrights, painters, paperhangers, decorators, wall cleaners, plasterers, and other contractors, and by maintenance departments.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved adjustable scaffolding and all its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views,

Fig. 1 tea perspective view of the scaffolding in assembled condition, with a platform supported on the top transverse beams;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the assembly, the longitudinal connecting beam being shown in cross-section, and dot-anddash lines indicating a 'collapsed position of one of the bracing rods;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking at'the inner side of one of the leg assemblies, the longitudinal connecting beam being broken away, and the top transverse beam being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the assembly includes in general metal leg members 8, 9, I0, and II; longitudinal connecting beams I 2, and I3, preferably formed of wood; top transverse beams I i, and I5 supporting a platform l6; and bracing rods I1, l8, l9, and 26 associated with each of the leg members 3, 9, l0, and II respectively, and having upper ends cooperable with the transverse beams M and. 55.

Each of the leg assemblies 8, 9, it), and I I is identical in construction, and only one will be described. It includes a lower section 25, which is T-shaped in cross-section, having a base 22, constructed in the form of a tripod as illustrated, or in any other suitable manner to provide a firm footing. Each base preferably includes horizontal members 23 welded at their inner ends to the lower end of the leg section El and at their outer ends to angularly positioned bracing channels 2 1, these channels preferably having their lower ends bent horizontally as at 25 and having their upper ends welded or otherwise secured to the leg section 2i as at 26. The upper portion of the lower leg section 2i has spaced, inwardly and downwardly inclined notches 2'! and a lowermost notch 23 which preferably does not incline downwardly.

The upper leg section 29 is channel shaped, with the sides of the channel so shaped as to snugly receive for sliding movement the base 30 of the T-bar 2!, the Web portion 3! of the T-bar being disposed midway between the side of the channel and parallel thereto and having its notched edge projecting beyond the edges of the channel sides. The lower end of the channel 29 is U-shaped, as at 32, with the outer leg of the U having a clamping bolt 33 in threaded cooperation therewith. Projecting into the U from the opposite side thereof is a metal prong 36. It is apparent that when one of the longitudinal beams l2 or I3 is received in the U 32 and when the clamping bolt 33 is tightened, the prong 34 will dig into the rear side of the longitudinal beam to aid in securely gripping the same and to positively prevent longitudinal shifting movement.

A lug 35 projecting below the U 32 has an eye 36 therein forming a pivot for an angularly bent end of one of the brace rods, such as the rod [1.

Preferably at a lower portion of the extension leg section 29 the sides of the channel are slit inwardly on spaced lines 31 and 38, and the metal therebetween is bent inwardly around the edges of the base 33 of the lower leg section 2! to overlap said edges and form retaining tongues 39, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. At points spaced thereabove the channel sides are apertured as at 40 to receive angularly bent ends ll of a loop 42. The loop is cooperable with the notches 27 to lock the extension section 29 in a desired position of adjustment with respect to the lower leg section 2!.

The upper end of the leg section 29 is formed with a fork or U 3, and a clamping bolt 44 has threaded cooperation with one of the sides of the fork so that one of the transverse beams id or I 5 can be secured in position in the manner shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

When the leg assemblies are being stored or transported, the upper sections 29 are moved to their lowermost position with the loop 32 in engagement with the lowermost notch 23, and one of the bracing rods l1, l8, l9; or 20. is swung to a parallel portion, as shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2. When in this position the upper part of the rod is adapted to engage between spaced ears 46, as shown in Fig. 2, to maintain the rod in collapsed position. The ears may be slightly resilient to bear against the rod extending therethrough and frictionally hold the same in position. If the wooden parts l2, l3, I4, l5, and I 6 are retained for permanent use, these may be readily stored in parallelism. However, it is not necessary to retain these wooden members as they are all standard pieces of lumber and can be readily obtained whenn ceded. The longitudinal connecting beams are preferably 2 x es, the crossbeams Id and [5 are preferably 2 x 6s, 2 x 8s, or 2 x 10s, in any desired length, and for the platform iii any suitable boards may be used.

In erecting the scaffolding or staging horses, the leg members are placed upright in suitably spaced position, and the extension sections 29 are raised to a desired height with the loops 42 retaining said sections in the desired position of adjustment. Preferably the adjustment of all four legs is the same. However, for certain conditions, such as uneven ground, it may be desirable to vary the adjustment of one or more leg members. After the leg members are properly positioned and adjusted, the longitudinal beams 12 and i3 are clamped in position in the Us 32, as shown in the drawing, the bolts 33 being tightened manually. Next the transverse beams M and I5 are placed in the upper forks 83, and the clamping bolts 44 are tightened. The width of the platform may be varied according to the length of the cross-beams I l} and I5. After the cross-beams are secured in position the bracing rods H, I 8, l9, and 29 are swung inwardly, and the upper ends are secured by nails 45 to the cross-beams M and IS, with the bracing rods preferably in crossed relationship, as shown. If a high platform is desired, the boards maybe laid longitudinally on the transverse beams l4 and I5, as indicated at [6 in Fig. 1. However, for certain types of work a low platform is desired. When such is the case, the platform [6 is omitted and boards are laid transversely across the longitudinal beams 12 and 23.

A plurality of these horses may be mounted adjacent one another, and also the horses may be erected in superimposed relationship, with the lowermost horse wider than the one resting thereon. The flexibility of the construction makes it possible to meet all scaffolding requirements.

From the above it is apparent that a very simple and inexpensive form of construction has been provided, which can be easily erected by one man, but which nevertheless provides for unusual firmness and rigidity, rendering the scaffold safe in use.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is:

1. A leg cooperable with similar legs in forming scaffolding or the like comprising, a base having a lower leg section extending upwardly therefrom, an upper leg section, one of said leg sections being channel shaped, and the other being T-shaped in cross-section, with the base of the .T fitting within the channel of the first section for relative sliding movement, whereby the upper leg section is slidable with respect to the lower leg section, retaining tongues bent inwardly from the sides of the channel shaped leg section into overlapping relationship with the base of the other leg section, means for selectively maintaining the upper leg section in a desired position of adjustment, and means on said leg for supporting portions of connecting beams.

2. A leg cooperable with similar legs in forrning scaffolding or the like comprising, a base having a lower leg section which is T- shaped in cross-section extending upwardly therefrom, an upper channel shaped leg section, the base of the T-shaped leg section fitting within the channel of the upper section for relative sliding movement, whereby the upper channel shaped section is slidable with respect to the lower leg section, means for selectively maintaining the upper leg section in a desired position of adjustment, the lower end of the channel shaped section being bent to U form in a direction away from the open side of the channel to receive a portion of a bracing beam, and means adjacent the upper end of the leg for supporting a portion of another beam.

3. A leg cooperable with similar legs in forming scafl'olding or the like comprising, a base having a lower leg section which is T-shaped in crosssection extending upwardly therefrom, an upper channel shaped leg section, the base of the T- shaped leg section fitting within the channel of the upper section for relative sliding movement, whereby the upper channel shaped section is slidable with respect to the lower leg section, means for selectively maintaining the upper leg section in a desired position of adjustment, the

lower end of the channel shaped section being sition of adjustment, means adjacent the upper end of said slidable section for receiving a portion of a supporting and bracing beam, means adjacent the lower end of said slidable section for receiving a portion of another beam while said beam extends in a direction at right angles to the first mentioned beam, and an elongated bracing member pivotally connected at its lower end to a lower portion of said slidable leg section adjacent the last mentioned beam receiving portion and having its support end connectible with that beam which is adapted to be supported at the upper end of the leg.

5. Scaffolding comprising, four legs, each leg having an upper adjustably movable section, supports adjacent the upper ends of said movable sections, beams carried by said supports, bracing members having lower ends pivotally connected to lower-portions of the movable leg sections and having upper ends connected to said beams,

and means on the upper movable leg sections for removably holding the bracing members in parallelism with the legs when the scaffolding is collapsed.

THEODOR. CHARLES JUCULANO,

JQHN E- FO BT

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