US2612414A

US2612414A - Brace bracket for scaffolds and the like

Info

Publication number: US2612414A
Application number: US196832A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Kirkpatrick
Original assignee: Universal Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Universal Manufacturing Corp; Universal Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1950-11-21
Filing date: 1950-11-21
Publication date: 1952-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1969-09-30

Description

Sept. 30, 1952 J. A. KIRKPATRICK 2,612,414

BRACE BRACKET FOR SCAFFOLDS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 21, 1950 Patented Sept. 30, 1952 BRACE BRACKET FOR SCAFFO-LDS .IANDIIHE LIKE John A. Kirkpatrick, Zelienople, Pa., assignor to Universal Manufacturing,0orp., Zelienople, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 21, (01. 304-40) I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to the bracing of metal scafiolds, bleachers and the like, and more particularlyto the bracketsby which braces are detachably connected to the legs'ofsuch structures.

For the sake of illustration this invention will be described as applied to metal scaffolds formed from spaced end panels that are connected by removable braces-but .itis not limited thereto.

It is among the objects of'this invention to provide such'bracing wherein the braces are detachably connected to brackets which are bolted to the legs of scaffolds or the like, which can-be applied to the inner sides of end panel legs, which are inexpensive to make and apply, which automatically lock the braces in place, and which permit the braces to be rotated in a horizontal plane around the brackets.

' According to this invention the bracket includes a supporting member that is formed for attachment'to the side of a leg that is to be braced. Preferablythe supporting member is shaped to .fit part wayaround the leg and is provided with a transversehole for receiving a bolt or rivet that fastens it to the leg. Extending upward from the supporting member, and preferably integral with it, is a vertical pin. This pin is designed to have the perforated end of a brace slid down over it. jects laterally at the upper end of the pin and is movable into and out of a position in which it will overlie the brace to hold it'down on the pin. The locking member preferably is a latch which is pivotally mounted in a vertical slot in the pin, the upper end of the latch having a lateral projection that normally swings outward by gravity to overlie the brace. of a casting .and be provided with a pairof laterally spaced pins so that two braces can be attached to each bracket.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a scaffold provided with my bracing; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of one of the brackets; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through a leg, showing a, bracket from above; and Fig. 4 is a combination side view and section of the bracket taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of a pair of vertical prefabricated scaffold end frames of any suitable construction has tubular legs I that may be rigidly connected by horizontal cross members 2, upon which wooden planking (not shown) may be placed to form a working platform. When thescaffold is assembled the end provided with a transverse hole for receiving a 1950, Serial No. 196,832

frames are held upright by means of crossed, inclined side braces 3. In order to detachably connect the ends of the braces to the scaffold legs, brackets 4 are fastened to each leg near its upper and lower ends. The brackets preferably are mounted on the inside of each leg; 1. e., the side of'the leg nearest to the other leg of the same frame. H

Each bracket 4 prefe'rablyis formed from a metal casting, the lower portion of which is a supporting member '5 for two laterally spaced cylindrical pins 6 extending upward from it in parallel relation. One side of the supporting member is provided with a semicircular recess 1 (Fig. 3) that allows the member to fit about halfway around'the adjoining leg of the scaffold. The central part of the supporting member is 4 bolt 8 that extends horizontally through the leg.

A locking member pro- The bracket may be made -A nut 9 on the outer end of the bolt holds the head of the bolt against the bracket and thereby attachesit to the leg.

Each of the bracket pins 6 is provided with a vertical slot ll extending diametrically through it and downward from its upper end for about half the length of the pin. The exact length of the slot is not material. Loosely disposed in the slot is a latch I2, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted on a rivet l3 extending across the lower portion of the slot near one side of the pin. The pin is provided with small recesses M (Fig. 2) for receiving the heads of the rivet so that they will not project out beyond the surface of the pin. The latch preferably projects above the top of the pin and has a convex upper surface. No part of the latch is wider than the pin. The side of the latch'opposite to the rivet-is provided with a notch l 6, the upper wall of which is substantially horizontal when the latch is upright, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. The inner wall of the notch is inclined from the inner end of its upper wall downward to the wide lower end of the latch. The notch reduces the width of a portion of the latch so that it can swing outward even though the pin is surrounded by the end of a brace 3, as shownin Fig. 4. The notch also forms a projection or nose between the top of the notch and the top of the latch, which projects laterally from the side of the pin when the latch is in its outer position. Due to the location of the latch pivot at one side of the center of gravity of the latch, the latch normally will swing away from rivet l3 by gravity, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4. Outward movement of the latch is limited, when a brace sleeve is not encircling the The upper ends of the latches then swing outward by gravity to keep the braces from accidentally being removed from the pins. When it is desired to disconnect the braces'fromthe iegsi l the upper ends of the bracket latches are pushed back manually to the broken lineposition of-.-Fig.

4, so that the braces can be slid up over the upper end of the latches and lifted from the bracket pins.

It will be seen that in this bracing the braces are locked on the brackets by latches thatautomatically swing out into locking position by gravity assoon as the brace sleeves pass down over them. The braces. then can not be removed. fromthe brackets until the. latches have been swung. manually into upright position. The lockingmechanismis of simple construction and there. is nothing aboutit to get out of orderl'or to cause it to. fail to operate. Since the sleeves at the ends of the braces are short, they donot extend. very, far above. the. brackets when. lifted therefrom, with the. result that the brackets can be mounted on, the inside of-the. scaffold legs or. diagonal braces in addition to the. inclined braces, that can be done. by providing the brackets with pinslong enough to receive both types of braces.

According to the provisions of statutes, I have explained. the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to representits. best emstood that, Within the. scope of the appended claims, the invention may be pr'acticed'otherwise than. as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. Abracket fondetachabl'yconnectinga brace having a perforatedendto a leg of a scaffoldjand the. like, the bracket comprising-a supporting member formed forattachmentto the sideof said leg, a vertical. pin extending upward from .saidmember and adaptedto have the end of a brace slid down over it, the pin being provided with a slotextending downward from its upper end, andalatch pivotally mountedin the slot and having alateral projection. atitsupper end the .patent bodiment. However, I desire to'have it underfor overlying the brace to lock it on the pin when the latch swings outward in the slot.

2. A bracket for detachably connecting a brace having a perforated end to a leg of a scafiold and the like, the bracket comprising a supporting member formed for attachment to the side of i said leg, a vertical pin extending-.upward from said member and adapted to have theend of a brace slid down merit, the pin being provided with a slot extending downward from its upper end, a latch disposed in the slot and having a lateral projection at its upper end, and a pivot connecting the lower end of the latch to the pin at a. point that causes said projection to swing outwardaway'from the pin by gravity, whereby theprojection will. overlie the end of the brace and. hold .it down .on the pin. I

3. A bracketfor'detachably connecting braces having perforated ends to a leg of a scafiold and the like, the bracket comprising a supporting member curved to fit part way. around said leg andhavingatransverse hole adapted to receive. a fastening member. for attachin'gsaid member to theleg, a pair. oflaterally spaced. pins extending upward. from the. top of saidmember and each adaptedto have .the end of a brace slid downover it, each pin being provided. with a slot extending downward from its upper end, .a,. latchdisposed in the slotand havinga. lateral projection at its upper end, and. a pivot. connecting the;lower end of the latch to.th-e.- pin at. a pointthat causes said projection to..swing outwardaway from the pin by gravity, whereby the. projection. of' the latch will overlie the end of thebrace mounted-on the pin thatsupports said latch.

4. In. scaffold bracingand the like, a: bracket formed for attachment to a verticalrleg and having a vertical cylindrical pin extending upward, a brace having a-vertical sleeve at its end for sliding, down over said pin, the pin being provided with a-slot extending downward from its upper end, and a latch pivotally mounted in the slot and having a lateral projection at its upper end for overlyingisaid sleeve to'hold it' down on the]. pin when the latch swings outward in the s o JOHN A. KIRKPATRICK.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS N umber. Name Date 127,100 Patton May 21,1872 932,570. Perrine' r .Aug;'31, 1909 1,618,348 Nicolai Feb. 22; 1927 1,819,031. Kuhlman Aug. 18-, 1931 2,118,467 Jones May '24, 1938 2,435,171 W6iSZJ Jan. 27, 1948 2,452,461. Harris-" Oct.'26,: 1948 FOREIGNPATENTS.

Number. Country Date;

20,633 Great Britain 1903