US2811395A

US2811395A - Brace attaching means for scaffold frames

Info

Publication number: US2811395A
Application number: US407919A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zigmund J Jagiel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-02-03
Filing date: 1954-02-03
Publication date: 1957-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1974-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1957 2...]. JAGIEL BRACE ATTACHING MEANS FOR SCAFFOLD FRAMES Filed Feb. 3, 1954 1N VEN TOR. agma/1d J, c/ay/e/ ATT RNEYS .BRACE ATTACHING MEANSEOR SCAFFOLD FRAMES Zigmuudil. Jagiel, Tle'd0,-Ohi0 Application February 3, .1954,.S,erial No. 407,919

1 Claim. (Cl.'-3.0 4-'40) This invention relates to ,scafifoldingof thesectional frame type, and particularly to .noveLmeansfor attaching the cross braces to the uprights of-opposingiframe sections.

The primary objects of the invention is the-provision of simple, efiicient and easily operablemeansjfor attach- .ing cross braces to the corner upiightsof opposing scaffold frame sections to obtain a rigid built-up scaffold frame structure.

Another object of the invention-isilre provision .of a novel means for releasably attaching brace bars 1t o-opposing frame uprights of sectional scaffolding and which also serves to secure together in a strong and eflicient manner the endwise joined uprights of superimposed sections.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and in which-- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a sectional scaffold structure with a brace rod attached to two opposing corner uprights thereof by means embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one end portion of a scaifold frame upright, with parts broken away, and with a brace holding or clamping means in released position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of two connected frame uprights together with the associated end of a brace bar, all secured together by the novel attaching means, with parts broken away, and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

The present invention is intended for use particularly in connection with scaffold structures of the separable built-up frame section type, wherein the frame sections have end or corner uprights capable of being mounted endwise one on another, and its purpose is to both secure brace rod ends to said uprights andto lock the connected sections of the uprights together whereby to secure rigidity and firmness in the connections between the parts and to prevent accidental separation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, (Fig. 1) designates a part of a built-up scaffold structure comprising a plurality of built-up and connected sections 11. Each of these sections has a pair of spaced end uprights 12 connected, in the present instance, by vertically spaced bars 13 which in turn are preferably rigidly connected by brace pieces 14. The end uprights are preferably of tubular stock and each has a stud 15 fitted into and projected outwardly from its upper end while its lower end is left open or provided with a socket into which the stud 15 of the registering upright of a vertically adjoining frame section may be fitted. The stud 15 preferably comprises a short length of tubular stock that may be loosely fitted into the adjacent ends of two adjoining uprights 12.

In erecting a scaffold structure, the sections 11 may be successively placed in parallel relation one over another to form two opposed tiers or columns, as illustratedin Fig. 1, or thesectionsmay be alternately arranged first -as to two opposing sides or tiers and then as-to the other two sides, or they may be built up in'alternatingrelation 'as to three s'id-es-only,all of whichis wellunderstoodin the art. The particular arrangement of'sections is not important so long as the end uprights 12 at'the'corners'of the structure are placedin interconnecting-relation one "over another. inanyevent, the uprights '12 of different tiers or-columns are connected at intervalsby-cross brace bars 16.

For'the purpose of the present invention, each brace bar 16, which is preferably of tubular stock, has each end flattened and shaped to form a U-shaped 'sideloop 18 with its open side facing-transversely -to th'elongi- -tudinal axes of "the bar. Each loop 18 is of a size to extendapproximately'half'Way aroundan upright 12 and at'the outer side ofitsinner end is provided,'in its;angle of connection with a bar 16, with a depression Use that theoutside surface of the'loop arc extends approximately from the-longitu dinal axis of the bar, as shown in 'Fig. 4,

and forthe-purpose'hereinafter described.

'A bar loop '18-is-held in engagement with an upright '1-2"by a-locking pin 20. This pin'has a stem 21 slidingly extending through registering apertures'22 provided diametrically-through' theupright and'the inserted end of the associated stud 15 and from both sides thereof. One

end of the stem is angled to form a transversely projecting L-shaped extension 23 of sutficient length lengthwise of the upright to span the joint between two abutting upright sections, with the outer terminal end thereof extending inward a short distance toward the upright in parallel relation to the stem 21 and in position to enter registering apertures 24 in the adjoining upright and in the stud 15, as shown. In other Words, the locking pin 20 is of U-form with one leg long to extend entirely through and beyond the standard and with the other leg short so it can'be engaged with or released from the aperture 24 by lengthwise movements of the long leg in the apertures 22. A coiled expansion spring 26 ismounted on the straight or free end of the stem and bears at one end against the associated upright 12 and at its other end against a shoulder or member 27 on the stem end, thus normally urging the angled end of the stern into locking engagement with the apertures 24.

The pin loop 23 is intended to have a bar loop 18 projected endwise therethrough, the body of the loop being preferably substantially flat in cross-section for the purpose, and the length of the short leg of the pin loop 23 is sufiicient to enter the apertures 24 and lock the associated upright 12 and stud 15 against relative movements when the bar loop is held to the upright by the locking pin, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It is thus apparent that the locking pin 20 serves both to hold a looped end 18 of a cross brace in engagement with a respective corner upright of the scaffold structure and also to lock the associated or interengaged frame uprights 12 against relative turning as well as relative longitudinal disengaging movements.

When connecting a pair of opposed uprights 12 with a brace bar 16, the associated locking pins 20 may first be moved against the tension of the springs 26 to release the inturned ends of the angles 23 from the apertures 24 and the parts 23 are then turned down about the axes of the stems 21 so as not to span the joint between the associated upright sections 12. The brace ends 18 are then looped about the associated upright joints, after which the angled pin ends are swung up to register with the respective bar loops 18 and permitted to move inward under the action of the springs 26 so as to closely embrace the bar loops and to enable their free ends to enter the registering apertures 24. The engaged position of a pin loop 23 with a bar loop 18 is preferably such that the pin loop seats in the recess 19 at the inner end of the bar loop. This engagement of the locking pin and cross bar end materially strengthens and stifiens the scaffold structure against lateral twisting stresses. Another manner of assembly the brace bars with the frame uprights and with the holding means is to thread one loop end 18 of the bar through one pin loop 23 without swinging the latter down and to then engage the other end of the cross-bar with its upright 12. the same as first above-described. In either event, the cross-bar is securely held at both ends to the respective uprights, preferably at a joint between two interengaged superimposed upright sections, the frame is strengthened and stifiened and the interengaged ends of such sections are held against relative twisting and axial separating movements.

I Wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claim.

What I claim is:

A brace bar attaching means for sectional scafiold structures having at least two laterally spaced uprights each having a plurality of endwise aligned sections, said means comprising a flattened end portion of the brace bar at at least one end thereof with such portion shaped to form a U-loop for engaging sidewise approximately half Way around an upright Where two sections thereof contact each other, the inner end of the loop terminating substantially in the axial line of the brace bar, and a holding means for the U-loop end of the brace bar comprising a U-shaped loop member having one leg substantially longer than the other, said longer leg being passed through one section of the aforesaid two sections of the upright in substantially planar alignment with the major part of the brace bar, parallel thereto and slightly spaced vertically therefrom, the bight portion of said loop member being parallel to said upright and overlying said bar where its said U-loop portion joins the major portion of the brace bar, and the shorter leg of said member extending into the other section of said two sections, with means to hold said U-shaped member is operative brace bar holding position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,138,838 Bonenberger May 11, 1915 1,273,231 Johansen July 23, 1918 1,279,299 Du Brau a- Sept. 17, 1918 1,560,978 Crump Nov. 10, 1925 1,627,177 Henningsen May 3, 1927 2,462,429 Sachs Feb. 22, 1949 2,619,390 Johnson Nov. 25, 1952 V FOREIGN PATENTS 536,146 France Apr. 6, 1922 609,428 Great Britain Sept. 30, 1948