US2586149A

US2586149A - Scaffold jack and ladder

Info

Publication number: US2586149A
Application number: US28106A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest L Coble
Original assignee: Star Welding & Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Star Welding & Manufacturing Co Inc; Star Welding & Manufacturing Company Inc
Priority date: 1948-05-20
Filing date: 1948-05-20
Publication date: 1952-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 1969-02-19

Description

Feb. 19, 1952 E. COBLE 2 8 4 SCAFF'OLD JACK AND LADDER Filed May 20. 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR: ERNEST L. Cosu:

4% KY. 01m

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 19, 1952 Ernest L. Goble,'East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Star Welding & Manufacturing Company, Inc.,. Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 20, 1948, Serial No. 28,106.

3 Claims.

This invention; relates to; equipment for use by mechanics. and'm-asons: where the: work. involved is above the floor level, more specifically a unitary assembly consisting of? an adjustable support for a portion of a. scaffold combined with an extension ladder tofacilitate both time and labor.

One. object of the invention is to provide an improved equipmentof this type capable of being readily collapsed for transportation or repositioning from time to time and expanded for use, whereby" the mechanic or mason may readily orient himself on or off the scaffold.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved equipment of this type having supporting legs and" a supportingv head adjustable thereon and an extension ladder the sections of which are connected to one of the legs and the head for adjustment therewith.

Another object of. the invention is to provide an improved combined scafiold jack having an adjustable head and ladder having an extensible section connected to the adjustable head of the jack: so that in any adjustment of the head the ladder is co-extensive in length to the height of the head.

Other objects; of the invention will: be apparent to. those skilled in the art to which my invention relates fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a scaffold supported at one end by an adjustable jack and supported atits opposite end by equipment embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view.

Fig; 3'? is a fragmentary elevation. on the line 3-3 of: Fig. 2;

Fi 4. is a section. on the line 4-4" of; Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is. a section on the line 5-5 of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a plan view on the line.- 6-6. of Fig; 2.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing certain parts in a different. position.

8 is a side elevaton of parts. as shown in Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig; 6, but showing certain parts in another position.

Figs. 10 and II are sections on the lines Ill-40' and ll-[I, respectively;, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is. an elevational view showing the equipment in collapsed position.

In the drawings, l indicates as; an entirety a jack having an adjustable head indicated as an entirety at2. 3' indicatesas an entiretya ladder, the jack and ladder forming a unitary assembly.

The jack. l consists: of the following: la indicates a plurality of legs, three legs being shown to simplify the. construction and reduce its weight to facilitate handling. The legs I a are preferably cut from T-stock, having pads la Welded on their lower ends to provide a large bearing surface on. the flooring when the jack is in use. The upper ends of the legs la are pivotally connected to a tubular member 20.. As shown in Fig. 10, the tubular member 2a is provided with pairs of outwardly extending. lugs 2a, each pair being spaced to accommodate the flange lb of one of the legs la, so that. by means of a pivot pin, such as a bolt 3a, the leg la and member 2a may be pivotally connected together for relative movement. Intermediate its ends each leg la is pivotally' connected to the outer end of a link 4, the inner end of which is pivotally connected to a lower tubular member 5, each connection between one. link 4 for the adjacent leg la being in alinement with the connection of the leg with the tubular member 2a. As the links 4 are ot equal length, the tubular member 5 is axially related to the tubular member 2a and by reason of the pivotal connections between the legs. la and

tubular members

2a, 5, the legs Ia may be collapsed, as shown in Fig. 12- to permit'ready handling, as well as occupy a. relatively small space. The tubular member 5 is provided with lugs: 5a, alined with the lugs 20/, respectively, and each link 4 consists of a pair of bars 4a cut from suitable bar stock, the bars engaging the opposite sides of one lug 5a and the flange lb of the adjacent leg la to accommodate pivot pins, such as bolts 6, to provide the pivotal connections therewith.

1 indicates a supporting member slidably and rotatably fitting the

tubular members

2a, 5, for endwi'se and angular adjustment therein and carrying at its. upper end the head 2. The supporting member 1 is preferably hollow, being cutto the. desired length from suitable metal tubing, so that when the head 2 is in its lowest position the lower end. of the supporting member I clears the flooring (see Fig. 2). Between its lower end and the head 2, the supporting member T is formed with a set of diametrically extending openings To, the purpose of which is later set forth.

The head 2 comprises the following: 9' indicates" a'base element suitably welded to the upper end of the supporting member 1 and extending laterally in opposite directions therefrom. The outer ends of the baseelement 9- are preferably braced or reenforced by arms Sa welded thereto at their outer ends and welded at their inner ends to the supporting member 1. Ill, [0, indicate a pair of seating elements each consisting of a base section Illa and a wall lflb extending upwardly from one end thereof. Each base section Illa is mounted. on the base element 9 and. pivotally connected thereto intermediate its'ends for rotative movement, whereby the seating elements in may be positioned in different relationships, as later set forth.

When the head 2 is disposed in its lowest position, the arms 90. engage the upper end of the tubular member 2a; in this position the supporting member I may be locked to the tubular member 2a to prevent rotative movement therein, as later set forth.

The head 2 may be supported at various levels above the flooring by sliding the supporting member 1 upwardly and securing the latter in its adjusted position by means which interlock it to the tubular member 2a against downward and angular movement.

The interlocking means consist of the alined openings 1a. formed in the member 1, diametrically extending openings 1c formed in the tubular member 2a and a pin I2 which extends through the openings; thus, the pin 12 connects the tubular member 2a and supporting member I together to prevent outward movement of the latter when the assembly is being transported and through the member 1 supports the head 2 in its elevated position.

[3 indicates a pressure device carried by the tubular member and arranged to engage the supporting member I under pressure. The device |3 preferably consists of a thumbscrew threaded into an opening formed in the tubular member 5 and tightened against the supporting member and co-operates with the tubular member 2a. to prevent wobbling or vibration of the head 2 incident to the movement. of workmen on the scaffold. Also, since the device 13 connects the tubular member 5 to the supporting member I and in any position of the latter it is connected through the pin l2 to the tubular member 2a, it will be seen that the

tubular members

2a, 5, are held in fixed relation, and the tubular members in turn support the legs in expanded fixed relation and thus prevent inward movement of the legs la, so that danger of one or more of the legs being engaged and displaced by some propelled or operated machine or body is eliminated.

N indicates an elongated tube which is rigidly secured to one end of the base 9 in any desired manner, preferably by welding, disposed at right angles to the base 9 and extending equal distances to opposite sides thereof. The tube l4 provides a bearing for a removable shaft l5 the opposite ends of which extend through alined openings formed in the side bars l6 of the ladder 3, the tube I4 and shaft l5 serving to pivotally connect the ladder to the head 2. The shaft l5 consists of a bar having a head |5a at one end and provided at its opposite end with an opening to accommodate a cotter pin l5b, the head l5a and pin [5b engaging the outer sides of the bars l6 and serving to prevent endwise displacement of the shaft 15. The tube 14 is preferably of a length to fit between the opposed inner sides of the bars 16 to provide a long bearing for the shaft l5. In this arrangement it will be seen that the weight of the ladder and the weight of a mechanic when ascending or descending thereon on the head aretran'smitted to the latte 1 .1

4 b a plane disposed midway the sides of the ladder and endwise of the base 9, so that uneven stresses are not imparted to the jack and scaffold when a mechanic is traversing the ladder in either direction. The ladder 3 consists of a main or lower section 3.1: and an extensible section 33:. The main section consists of side bars 3.2 spacedly connected together by spaced pairs of inner and outer alined cross members 3b preferably welded to the opposite side edges of the bars 32. As shown the outer cross bars provide steps or rungs, whereby the mechanic can ascend or descend on the ladder. The extensible section 3.1: consists of the side bars l6 (already referred to) and cross members I Go. extending between and welded at their opposite ends to the side bars IS. The bars I6a provide steps or rungs when the extension 30: is raised or extended. As shown, the side bars l6 are disposed within and slidably fit the side bars 32. As the width of the bars I6 approximates that of the side bars 32 (see Fig. 4), the bars l6 slidably engage with and are guided longitudinally of the bars 32, during endwise movement of the ladder section 3.1:, by the inner faces of the cross members 327. The upper ends of the side bars I 6 are preferably integrally connected to an arcuate section l6b adapted to be gripped by the mechanic when stepping off the ladder onto the scaffold or stepping from the scaffold onto the steps of the ladder. The lower ends of the side bars 32 are removably pivotally connected to the outer end of an extension 30 fixed to the lower end of one of the legs la. By preference the extension 30 and pad Ia for the adjacent leg la may be formed of one piece. The pivotal connection for the bars 32 is similar to the pivotal connection between the bars I6 and the base 9- 0f the head 2, as above set forth. As the lower end of the main ladder section is pivotally connected to one of the legs and the upper end portion of the extensible ladder section is connected to the adjustable head 2, the ladder and the jack may be collapsed, as shown in Fig. 12, and, with respect to the ladders length and inclination, it readily adjusts itself to any adjustment of the head 2 vertically so that manual handling of the ladder after any adjustment of the head 2 is not required nor does the adjustment of the head and ladder affect the collapsibility thereof. Accordingly, any adjustment of the head 2 in either direction to any desired elevation is effective to position the ladder for use. By connecting the lower end of the ladder section 30: to the lower end of a leg la, the ladder always rests on the flooring or other surface which supports the legs and by connecting the ladder sections to a leg and the head 2, the ladder is held against lateral displacement relative to the head and bears inwardly on the latter in line with the adjacent leg la, the connecting link therefor and axis of the tubular members 2a. 5.

Fig. 1 shows one adaptation of my equipment supporting one end of a scaffold A but two such mechanisms may be employed when desired.

Figs. 1, 2 and 6 show the seating elements ID in one position arranged to engage the opposite sides of a scaffold and Fig. 9 shows the elements in a different position engaging the opposite sides of a scaffold, whereas Figs. 7 and 8 show the position of the elements engaging a sill A on which a scaffold is to be supported. Set screws I] are provided for securing the seating elements to the base 9 and set screws l8 are provided on the walls lob to secure the latter to the scaffold or a sill.

No claim is made herein to the construction of the jack and the head thereon, as such parts form the subject-matter of my co-pending application Ser. No. 724,949, filed January 29, 1947.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In portable equipment for supporting one end of a scafiold and the like, the combination of a supporting element having a scaffold support at its upper end, means for vertically and rotatably adjustably supporting said element consisting of upper and lower alined tubular members through which said element slidably and rotatably extends, a plurality of legs uniformly space about said tubular members pivotally connected at their upper ends to said upper tubular member for swinging movement toward and from said lower member radially of the latter, a linkage pivotally connected at its opposite ends to each of said legs and said lower tubular member, separate means for detachably securing said tubular members to said supporting element to support the latter in adjusted position, a ladder consisting of a main section and an extensible section, a pivotal connection between the lower end of said main ladder section and one of said legs and a pivotal connection between the upper end of said extensible ladder section and said scafiold support, whereby said extensible section moves with said support relative to said main ladder section when said supporting element is adjusted vertically, said tubular members being adapted to relatively move endwise of said supporting element to permit said legs to be collapsed into close relation to said tubular members.

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection for said extensible ladder section consists of a shaft supported at its opposite ends in the side bars of said section, a tube rotatably fitting said shaft between said side bars and engaging the latter at its opposite ends and a rigid connection between said tube and scaffold support.

3. Equipment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection for said main ladder section consists of a shaft supported at its opposite ends in the side bars of said section and a tube rotatably fitting said shaft and a rigid connection between said tube and one of said legs.

ERNEST L. COBLE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 118,128 Heavner Aug. 15, 1871 920,547 Crum May 4, 1909 979,220 Taber Dec. 20, 1910 1,116,098 Morrison Nov. 3, 1914 1,234,510 Trautwein July 24, 1917 1,545,348 Nalder July 7, 1925 1,853,566 Lingo Apr. 12, 1932 1,901,726 Bonnet Mar. 14, 1933 2,062,473 Norton Dec. 1, 1936 2,261,479 Moen Nov. 4, 1941