US2814534A - Window platform and support - Google Patents

Description

O 1957' SHOZABURO OTANI wmoow PLATFORM AND SUPPORT Filed Sept. 23, 1953 Nov. 26, 1957 SHOZABURO [OT/AN! WINDOW PLATFORM AND SUPPORT S Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 25. 1953 WINDOW PLATED AND SUPPORT Shozaburo ()tani, Chicago, Ill. Application September 23, 1953, Serial No. 381,825

2 Claims. (Cl. 304-24) The present invention relates to and comprehends a novel window platform and support adapted to be readily and easily mounted upon the sill of a window opening for safely supporting a window washer or other workman in standing or sitting position at the exterior of the window.

Although various types of scaffolds or supports have been devised for mounting in a window opening and for use by a window washer or workman at the exterior of a window, their use has been curtailed or restricted. Various reasons may be attributed for the failure of such scaffolds or supports to reach commercial success, but among such reasons may be included the fact that they do not offer the positive assurance and protection desired and neither are they so constructed and assemble-d that they may be readily adjusted and adapted to be securely anchored onto window sills of various contours and dimensions.

As any accident to the platform or scaifold or a loosening or breakage of a portion of the sill at the elevation at which such devices are used would be apt to catapult the workman to the street or ground below and generally result in a fatal accident, it is essential that any platform or support for the purpose intended must be rigidly anchored in position and incapable of tilting movement when the weight of the workman and his equipment are disposed on the platform at the exterior of the window.

The present invention obviates the objections of such prior devices in that the weight of the workman or window washer and his equipment when supported upon the present novel assembly at the exterior of the building, exerts a downward force that maintains the assembly more securely in anchored position.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a novel window platform and support that is readily adjustable to window frames and sills of varying sizes and contours and is securely retained in a substantially horizontal position at all times on the sill.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel window platform and support and to a novel means and manner of anchoring the assembly upon the window sill.

A further and important object of the present invention is the provision in a window platform or support of the type disclosed which overhangs the exterior of the sill, with a novel construction of outwardly and downwardly projecting legs or anchoring members at the exterior of the sill which positively anchor the supporting frame to the sill and permit the workman complete freedom of movement and maximum security at the exterior of the building.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel assembly adapted to sustain the weight of a workman, together with his tools or other equipment required when working at the exterior of the building, and which assembly is provided with novel anchoring means at the exterior and interior of the window sill so that it may be quickly and conveniently applied. to

the sill without in any way marring the finish thereof.

Another and important object of the present invention is the provision of a novel extensible platform and support whereby the window washer or workman supported thereon may freely work at the exterior of the window or window opening in either a standing or sitting position.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel interlocking and collapsible assembly that may be readily mounted and anchored in position and extended and opened for use, and readily retracted and collapsed for removal and storage.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel platform or support adapted to readily sustain the weight of a workman or Window washer and his equipment, and which weight sustained at the exterior of the window results in a downward force that maintains the assembly most securely and without any tendency of tilting or disengagement of the platform from the window sill upon which it is mounted.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the novel window platform and support mounted in fully extended, operative position upon the sill of a window or other opening.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the open assembly of Fig. 1, the view being taken from the interior of the building.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the novel assembly of Fig. 1 with the component parts retracted or collapsed and folded to inoperative or storing position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the novel assembly extended to open position but with the seat broken away.

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows, the back rest being shown partially extended and the seat cushion folded back.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view in side elevation of a portion of the assembly of Fig. 5, and showing more clearly the outwardly and downwardly inclined legs and anchoring members and the manner in which the anchoring members engage or anchor onto the exterior of the sill.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the assembly of Fig. 6, as well as a view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 8-8 of Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 9-9 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view in side elevation of the inner end of the assembly of Figs. 1 and 3, parts being broken away for more complete disclosure.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view in horizontal cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 12-12 of Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view in horizontal cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 13-13 of Fig.

l and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view in horizontal cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 14-14 of Fig. 1

and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 15-15 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the folded links in collapsed position for storage as in Fig. 3.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the assembly of Fig.. 3 supported on an end.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings and to the embodiment therein selected to illustrate the present invention, the novel window platform and support is adapted to be mounted upon the sill of a window frame or opening, the base support comprising a pair of longitudinally extensible and retractable or collapsible frames 11 and 12, the inner frame .11 in eluding spaced angle members 13 and 14 having in turned flanges 15 and spaced transverse bars 16 and 17 bridging these flanges. The opposite ends of the transverse bar 16 are rigidly secured at 18 to the underside of the inturned flanges 15 of the spaced angle members 13 and 14, while the opposite ends 19 of the transverse bar 17 are freely slidable on the upper surface of the flanges 15 and retained thereon by means of plates 20 mounted beneath the flanges 15 by any suitable attaching means, such as bolts or the like. Also secured by the attaching means to the transverse bar 17 inwardly of its ends are the inner ends 21 of the inturned flanges 22 of a pair of spaced angle members 23 and 24 which extend inwardly of but in spaced, parallel relation with the angle members 13 and 14.

These angle members 23 and 24 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) are associated with the inner frame 11 and are movable longitudinally of the angle members 13 and 14 by means of their connection to the transverse bar 17 which is longitudinally adjustable on the angle members 13 and 14 through a screw or threaded rod 25. The outer threaded end 26 of the rod or screw is received in a threaded or tapped block or bracket 27 rigidly secured to the underside of the transverse bar 17 and the inner or forward end of the rod is journalled in and projects through a bearing block 28 rigidly secured to the underside of the fixed transverse bar 16. The end projecting forwardly through the hearing or journal 28 is bent to form a crank arm 29 having a handle 30 pivotally connected at 31 to the bifurcated end of the crank arm whereby the handle may be moved from the full line position of Fig. 4to the dotted line position there shown. A cotter pin or the like 32 prevents the threaded rod 25 from being unscrewed from the block or bracket 27.

To each of the angle members 23 and 24 intennediate their length is anchored at 33 a substantially Z-shaped stirrup 34 with one end 35 partially encompassing and supporting the projected outer or free end 36 of the angle members 13 and 14, and the other end 37 turned or projected inwardly to overlie an edge of the outer frame 12 (Fig. 8). The ends 36 have their vertical flanges notched or narrowed to provide a shoulder or abutment at 38.

Also rigidly affixed by a strap or bracket 39 to each of the angle members 23 and 24 is the upper end of a downwardly and outwardly projected leg or projection 40 to the lower end of which is rotatably mounted a roller A preferably having rubber or composition tire which will not mar the surface finish of the sill or other surface over which these spaced rollers or wheels roll and over which the assembly may be moved or transported. 'Each leg or projection 40 is preferably an angle member detachably connected at its upper end by screws or attaching means to its bracket 39, and provided with a strap 41 partially encompassing the leg or projection 40 and rigidly carrying or formed integral with the strap is an angle bracket 42, the inner surface of which is covered by a resilient or flexible surface covering 43 and the horizontal flange and its covering having pressure contact with the outer edgeorsurface of the sill 45 upon which.the.platform assembly. is supported. Each strap 41 and its bracket 42 are freely slidable upon a leg 40 and adjust themselves upon the leg to maintain the assembly in horizontal position.

The outer frame 12 provides a stand or platform at the exterior of the window upon which the window washer or workman may stand or be seated and comprises longitudinally extending spaced angle members 46 and 47 the lower inturned flange 48 of each being slidably supported on the inturned flange 22 of the angle members 23 and 24, and spaced transverse metal straps or bars 49 preferably covered by a seat cushion 51 for the convenience and comfort of the workman, particu larly when the workman performs his work in seating position. The cushion is anchored at its outer end on a cross rod 50 (Fig. 12) and at its inner end is provided with clips 52 (Fig. 15) for detachably anchoring this cushion in position on the straps or bars 49, or these clips may be released and the seat cushion folded back to the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 5 when the workman is in standing position.

At the outer end of the stand or platform is provided a transverse angle bar 53 to which is pivotally connected a back rest or vertical guard 54 having spaced, upstand-.

ing and rigid angle members 55 each pivotally connected at its lower end by a bolt or pin 56 (Fig. 12) to an inturned flange 57 on the end of the transverse bar 53 to permit the back rest or guard to fold inwardly over the outer frame 12 of the stand or platform. The cross rod 50 for the seat cushion 51 is also pivotally mounted on the bolt or pin 56.

A complementary rigid angle member 58 rides in each angle member 55 to provide an extensible frame whereby the back rest or vertical guard may be readily adjusted to a desired height, including the fully extended position of Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the member 58 being guided in its movement by the inturned and overlapping ends 59 of a transverse bar or strap 61 rigidly connected to and carried by the lower ends of the upper angle members 58, and a substantially U-shaped stirrup 62 rigidly connected to each of the lower angle members 55 at its upper end and each stirrup encompassing and guiding an angle member 58 in its longitudinal movement.

When the back rest or vertical guard 54 is moved to its maximum, elevated position, the overlapping ends 59 of the transverse bar 61 abut against the lower end of the stirrups 62. A set screw 63 carried by each stirrup 62 and adapted to engage an upper angle member 58, retains these latter members in retracted position, in fully elevated position or in any intermediate position. A cross brace or transverse bar 64 connects the upper end of the uprights or angle members 58 and this bar may be covered by a cushion 60 (Fig. 4) for the convenience and comfort of the workman. The transverse bar 64 is preferably arranged slightly below the upper ends of the uprights 58 to permit the bale of a bucket or other container or object to be anchored onto the extended ends. A chain 65 (Figs. 1 and 2) having its opposite ends detachably connected to the upper ends of the upper members 58, provides a convenient method of further sup porting the workman when standing.

Pivotally mounted and foldable links 66 and 67 of a brace are adapted to retain the guard in elevated upright position upon the pin or bolt about which the guard pivots to its upright or folded position. These links or arms 66 and 67 when in extended and aligned position (see Figs. 1 and 5) are retained in that position and prevented from moving over center by a notch 68 formed in the link or arm 67 and a laterally extending lip or projection 69 on the arm or link 66 adapted to be received in the notch 68 and limit the pivotal movement of the links or arms about their connecting pivot 71. The other end of each link or arm 66 is pivotally connected at 72 to its upright 58 and the other end of the link or arm 67 is pivotally connected by a pin or the like 73 to the upper portion of an inverted U-shaped stirrup 74 5 (Figs. 2, 6 and 7) formed on the outer ends of a transverse bar 75 at the forward end of the frame 12. The downwardly opening channel of this stirrup 74 is adapted to ride over the upstanding flange on the angle members 23 and 24.

To anchor the platform assembly onto the window sill 45, the collapsed assembly as shown in Fig. 3 is lifted or placed on the window sill with the rollers A travelling over the sill and the angle bracket 42 freely movable on each outwardly and downwardly projecting leg 40 in position to seat upon the outer edge of the window sill. Each angle bracket 42 being readily slidable and vertically adjustable upon its leg 40, will automatically adjust itself to the outer edge of the sill when the wheels or rollers A drop or slip over the outer edge of the sill 45. The angle brackets 42 slide upwardly over the legs 40 and are clamped securely by the pressure of the legs and weight of the unit and that of the workman.

The inner end of the platform is then adjusted through manipulation of the handle 30 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) to dis pose the spaced depending legs 76 at the front of the sill. These depending legs overlap at their upper ends onto the flanges 15 and are rigidly connected at 18 to the angle members 13 and 14 and transverse bar 16, and each leg is provided with an inwardly opening channel member 77 adjustable vertically on its leg and preferably having a covering 78 of rubber or other resilient material adapted to receive a flange or overhang 79 on the interior of the sill 45. If the sill is devoid of such a flange or overhang, or if the flange is disposed below the position shown, the lower edge 80 of the channel member 77 may seat upon the inner edge of the sill and a roller or projection 81 carried on an adjustable set screw 32 may be employed to retain the legs anchored onto the inner face of the sill. The roller and inner face of the depending legs '76 are also preferably covered with rubber or other suitable resilient covering material 78 to avoid marring the surface against which it is placed.

By manipulating the handle 30, these legs 76 are drawn into contacting and anchoring relation with the interior of the sill 45 and the horizontal flanges 44 on the brackets 42 which are freely slidable on the legs 40 adjust themselves longitudinally of the legs to the contour and height of the exterior of the sill 45 whereby the corner of the flanges 44 sustains the weight of the assembly and bears firmly against the sill. When the platform assembly is adjusted to locked or anchored position, the extensible or adjustable outer frame 12 and the extensible back rest or vertical guard 54 are extended or opened to their desired operative position and locked in that position by aligning the links 66 and 67 and by adjustment and locking of the set screws 63. The workman is then ready to perform his labor.

The outwardly and downwardly inclined legs or projections 46 not only anchor the unit assembly onto the sill, but automatically raise and lower the platform and assembly in a substantially horizontal plane. The weight of the assembly and that of the workman is supported at the outer edge of the sill where the brackets 42 engage and at the front of the assembly where the legs 76 engage, whereby the base of the assembly is automatically adjusted to and remains in a substantially horizontal plane and each bracket 42 at or adjacent the corner thereof sustains the weight of the unit thereat.

As the angle members or brackets 42 are freely slidable on the legs 44 and as the sides or flanges of these brackets are arranged at an obtuse angle or more than 90, they readily engage the outer edge of the sill 45 and are automatically adjusted on these legs to their proper height in which the frames 11 and 12 and the'base of the support for the workman are rigidly anchored and held in a substantially horizontal plane. The weight or downward force applied to these brackets or angle members 42 causes them to be retained wedged on the outwardly and downwardly inclined legs 40.

When the unit assembly is once adjusted to operative position upon the sill, it may be quickly removed without manipulating the handle 30 and adjusting screw 25 and without disturbing the adjustment of the legs 40 and 76. This is accomplished by folding or collapsing the platform and by lifting the outer edge of the assembly. As the legs 40'project or incline outwardly and downwardly and the angular brackets 42 are freely slidable thereon, these brackets may be easily and readily lifted from the outer edge of the sill 45. After removal the assembly may be set on the floor or placed in the position shown in Fig. 17 for storage, and the assembly may be replaced on the same or similar sill without further adjustment.

When the assembly is collapsed and retracted or telescoped to inoperative position as in Fig. 3, the assembly including the frame members and the back rest or guard, fold into a substantially flat space and the complete assembly is retained in position for storage either in a substantially horizontal position as in Fig. 3, or in an upright position as in Fig. 17. When fully collapsed, the angle members 46 and 47 slide or ride over the angle members 23 and 24 with the uprights or angle members 55 and 58 folded downwardly onto the angle members 13 and 14. \In fully retracted position, the ends or inturned flanges 59 of the transverse bar 61 ride over the notched portion of the members 13 and 14 and abut against the shoulder 38 on the latter members, and the end 83 of each link 67 abuts against the adjacent end of a stirrup 34.

To facilitate shipping, the rear legs 40 together with {their brackets 42 and the forward legs 76 may be readily removed, the remainder forming a compact assembly which with the detached legs, may be packaged and shipped in a minimum of space.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A window platform adapted to be mounted and anchored upon a window sill for supporting a workman at the exterior of a window opening, comprising telescopically and adjustably connected inner and outer frame members adapted to be mounted on the sill in a horizontal plane, an extensible support slidably mounted on the outer of said frame members for supporting the workman in sitting or standing position at the exterior of the window, means on the inner of said frame members for anchoring said inner frame member onto the interior of the sill, spaced projections extending downwardly and outwardly from the outer frame member and an angle bracket on each projection and free to slide longitudinally thereof, said angle brackets opening inwardly and seating upon the outer edge of the sill when the platform is moved outwardly over the window sill toward operative position, said brackets when engaging the outer edge of the Window sill riding upon their projections and Wedging thereon to hold the support and frame members of the platform in substantially horizontal position when the anchoring means on the inner frame member is adjusted to holding position.

2. Mechanism for supporting a workman at the exterior of a window opening, said mechanism comprising a frame mounted upon the sill and including side rails and a cross member connecting the inner ends of the side rails and adapted to seat upon the inner edge of the sill, a laterally disposed bar bridging and having its ends slidably and adjustably connected to and slidable on said side rails, a second frame movable longitudinally of the first frame and having side rails arranged parallel to and spaced inwardly of the side rails of the first frame with the forward end of the side rails of the latter connected to and carried by the transverse bar, a stirrup carried by each side rail of the second frame for receiving the outer end of a side rail of the first frame and permitting longitudinal adjustment of said frames relative to each other while maintaining them in alignment, means on the first frame for anchoring it upon the inner edge of the sill, an outwardly and downwardly projecting leg 7 '8 rigidly connected at its upper end to each side rail of the References Cited in the file of this patent seeond frame, an angle member sliclably meunted and UNITED STATES PATENTS longitudinally movable on each leg with the sides of said angle member forming an obtuse angle, said angle mem- 5341636 f 261 1893 her being adapted to seat upon and bear against the exte- 5 560544 Rabmowltz May 1896 rior edge of the sill for anchoring the platform to the 65735111! Bulasky P 1900 exterior of the sill, and means for adjusting said frames 702314 Boardman June 1902 transversely of the sill to move said anchoring means into 35 Haas 1923 operative engagement with the sill, said angle members 1,553,725 UPham 1925 permitting ready removal of the platform 'without dis- 10 1,721,179 Duket July 1929 2,285,901 Chenoweth June 9, 1942 turbing the adjustment of said frames.

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