US2546676A - Sidewalk bridge scaffold - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 maa-1' T. C. NORTH SIDEWALK BR'IDGE SCAFFOLD March 27, 1951 Filed oct. 18, 194e f/vvE/v rola F/orfms C. NOR TH.

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March 27, 1951 T. c. NORTH 2,546,676

SIDEWALK BRIDGE SCAFFOLD Filed Oct. 18, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mi@ T MRA/E ysA March 27, 1951 T. c. NORTH 2,546,676

SIDEWALK BRIDGE SCAFFOLD Filed Oct. 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PLATFORM 2 .5

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Patented Mar. 27, 1951 SIDEVVALK BRIDGE SCAFFOLD Thomas C. North, Zelienople, Pa., assigner ,to Universal Fittings da Scaffolding Company, Zelienople, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application ctober 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,149

1 Claim.

This invention relates to scaiolds' and, in particular, to scaffolding for bridging sidewalks and the like while work isY being carried on above them.

Sidewalk bridge scaiolds are used in construction, maintenance or repair of Ybuildings to provide the usual elevated support for workmen and to protect the pedestrians passing beneath the bridge from falling wood, cement, bricks or other materials. One side of the bridge extends along the wall of the building, andthe other is located near the curb or even in the street. Prior bridges are not always satisfactory since they may not make desirable provision for Varying widths of sidewalks. It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide a scaffold which can be used as a sidewalk bridge, which is quickly and easily adjustable in width, which is sufciently sturdy at any width to support customary loads, and which is simply and inexpensively constructed.

According to the invention, my scaffold employs spaced parallel end frames which are connected together and held upright by braces. Each end frame includes a pair of laterally spaced legs to the upper portion of each of which a pair of vertically spaced horizontal arms are connected. The two pairs of arms of each end frame extend toward each other and are connected by a pair of horizontal spacing members which preferably are telescoped in the arms. The connected arms and spacing members form a supporting beam for a working platform that serves as a roof for the sidewalk. The spacing members and the arms are so connected as to be adjustable axially with relation to each other, whereby the width of the end frame can be Varied to suit the conditions encountered.

For maximum strength, each pair of arms is rigidly connected by one or more braces 'to form a truss. Preferably, there is a tubular vertical brace near the free ends of the arms, and a re movable pin extends through the brace and through transverse openings in the telescopi-:d arms and spacing members to lock them all together in the desired position. Also, vertically adjustable means may be provided to compensate for normal variations in sidewalk grades, or, if desired, to permit one side of the scaffold to stand in the street beyond the curb.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which Figs. l and 2 are end views of a scaffold showing it in fully expanded and contracted positions, respectively; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

VReferring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, a pair of spaced end frames l and 2 are connectedl to gethe'r and supported in upright position by diagonal braces 3 and horizontal stringers As shown in Figs. l' and 2, end frame I, which preferably is -built from steel tubes throughout and is the same as end frame 2, includes a pair of legs 5, vertically spaced horizontal arms 6 and 'l joined at one end to the upper portions of the legs, and spacing members 8 connecting the arms. ln appropriate positions near the top and bottom of each leg, threaded bolts 9 are mounted for receiving the perforated ends of braces 3 and Ll. Wing nuts hold the braces on the bolts and against the legs. each leg and to the bottom of the adjoining arm 6 is a brace lil which strengthens the leg, helps support the arms, and yet allows ample room for pedestrians to walk through the scaffold. 'The horizontal arms attached to each leg extend toward the other leg and are axially aligned with the arms on that leg. Each pair of "arms is connected by braces l l and l2 which, together with the arms, form a strong truss. By using tubular n arms, spacing member can be telescoped in them and will spanV the space between their free ends. The spacing members and the short trusses connected by them therefore form a long truss or reinforced beam on which a platform 25 can be laid to protect pedestrians from falling objects.

One feature of this invention is that the widths of the end frames are adjustable to compensate for varying sidewalk widths and that, .even with f and spacing member openings.

the end frames at their full widths, the scaffold is sumciently sturdy to support heavy loads. Thus, the braces ll are tubular and are perpendicular to arms 6 and 'l which are provided with vertical openings in axial alignment with the braces. Spacing members 3 are provided with longitudinally spaced vertical openings li therethrough, different ones of which are adapted to register with the transverse openings in the braces when the legs are placed different distances apart. To lock the arms and spacing memberstogether when the legs are the desired distance apart, removable locking pins l5 are inserted in the aligned arm These pins, ,of course, pass through braces Il. Such a connection has the double function of securing the arms and spacing members together and of adding structural strength to the end frames. Pins l5 preferably have dat heads so as not to interfere with the platform planks laid across the trusses,

To permit legs e to be adjusted vertically, a

foot or base l is inserted in the tubular lower 4end of each leg. The base is provided with ver- Welded to the lower' end of Y tically spaced openings Il any one of which can be aligned with an opening through the leg to receive a locking pin i9. Other forms of adjustable bases, such as common jack-screws, may be used if desired.

In order to prevent anything from falling over the street side of the scaffold, toeboard brackets 2B are provided. These brackets have vertical lower portions telescoped into the upper ends of the legs, and upper portions inclined outwardly to support toeboard planking 39. To prevent the brackets from turning in the legs, the brackets are provided with laterally projecting pins Zi that rest in notches 22 formed in the upper ends of the legs. All of the legs are notched in this manner so that the legs may be used interchangeably. In this regard, it is a great advantage of this invention that al1 of the right and left hand members of the scaiold canbe interchanged one for the other. Such interchangeability simplies and considerably reduces the expense of fabricating the parts as Well as permits the scaiold to be assembled quickly and easily from its readily transportable parts at the place of its desired use.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, Within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

A scalold end frame comprising a pair of lat- 35 erally spaced legs, a pair of vertically spaced tubular horizontal arms secured to the upper portion of each leg and extending toward the other leg, each pair of arms being provided with aligned vertical openings therethrough, a vertical tubular brace aligned with said openings in each pair of arms with its opposite ends rigidly .connected to said arms, a pair of horizontal spacing members slidably mounted in the free ends of said arms to connect them and form therewith a supporting truss for a platform, said spacing members being provided with longitudinally spaced vertical openings therethrough, and a removable pin eX- tending through the vertical openings of each pair of arms and their connecting brace and also through any of said spacing member openings registering with the arm openings.

THOMAS C. NORTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS l Number Name Date 354,880 Amon Dec. 28, 1886 760,239 Oursler May 17, 1994 786,054 Roy Mar. 28, 1905 913,294 Dickson Feb. 23, 1909 1,273,231 Johansen July 23, 1918 1,435,379 Connery Nov. 14, 1922 2,043,498 Uecker June 9, 1936 2,289,141 Oertle July 7, 1942 2,325,592 Degler Aug. 3, 1943 2,359,583 Reiner Oct. 3, 1944

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