US3604175A

US3604175A - Adjustable shoring system or the like

Info

Publication number: US3604175A
Application number: US39628A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert F Gray
Original assignee: ATO Inc
Current assignee: Scott Technologies Inc
Priority date: 1970-05-22
Filing date: 1970-05-22
Publication date: 1971-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-14
Also published as: DE2125372A1; DE2125372C3; BE767533A; GB1320847A; CA925545A; DE2125372B2

Abstract

An adjustable shoring system includes base frames, extension frames which are vertically adjustable with respect to the base frames in a series of incremental steps, and gooser braces extending between headers on the extension frames and on the opposite base frames. The extension and base frames are each provided with two vertically spaced headers; and the headers on the extension frames are spaced apart a distance equal to one step of adjustment while the headers on the base frames are spaced apart a distance equal to two steps, as the result of which gooser braces of the same length can be used for each of a series of four steps of adjustment.

Description

United States Patent [/1969 Kasmach.................,.4.. 182/]78 Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado [72] Inventor Robert F. Gray Brookfield, Wis. [21 Appl. No. 39,628 [22] Filed May 22, 1970 [45] Patented Sept. 14, i971 [73] Assignee A-T-O, lnc.

Milwaukee, Wis.

[54] ADJUSTABLE SHORING SYSTEM OR THE LIKE 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

frames and on the opposite base frames. The extension and base frames are each provided with two vertically spaced headers; and the headers on the extension frames are spaced 6 8 m7 I 2 4 0 1 E h c m S i 0 d l k F W 5 .l.

17952/637 apart a distance equal to one step of adjustment while the headers on the base frames are spaced apart a distance equal [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1965 Squire..........................

to two steps, as the result of which gooser braces of the same length can be used for each of a series of four steps of adjustment.

PATENTEU saw 4 |97I 1% lll v 7 w x? INVENTOR ROBERT F. GRAY ATTORNEY ADJUSTABLE SHORING SYSTEM OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to adjustable shoring or scaffolding systems or the like, and particularly to a system providing for bracing between adjustable extension frames and base frames.

It is common in adjustable shoring systems to have extension frames that are vertically adjustable with respect to base frames in a series of incremental steps. Most often, this is accomplished by having vertical legs of the extension frames telescopically received in vertical legs of the base frames. The base frame legs are provided with a vertically spaced series of holes, and pins placed through the holes support the legs of the extension frame in the desired position.

It is also conventional to provide for some sort of bracing between each extension frame and the base frame opposite it, this being more essential as the extension frame is extended further. Heretofore, however, it has been difficult to accomplish the required bracing without using extra or unduly expensive parts. It is possible, for example, to provide fixed points of attachment for braces on the extension and base frames, but this necessitates using braces of different lengths as the extension frames are extended.

Another presently available system in effect uses the pins which support the extension frames as points of attachment for the braces, and since the pins are moved for each step of adjustment the brace attachment point is also moved so that the same length brace can be used for each position. While this latter system is generally satisfactory, it requires the use of expensive adapter pins. Further, with such a system it is impossible without improvisation to brace two opposite extension frames at different heights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates a system in which conventional gooser braces extending between attachment points on the base and extension frames provide effective bracing. Pairs of attachment points are provided on each frame, and they are spaced in such fashion that the same length gooser brace can be used for any of four steps of adjustment. The system of the invention provides for highly effective bracing and quick assembly and disassembly while still being relatively simple and inexpensive. It is a particular feature of the invention that the bracing for one of two facing extension frames is independent of the bracing for the other. so that the two frames can be set and braced at different heights. Another particularly important feature is that headers extending between vertical legs of the base and extension frames can be used as attachment points for the braces, making it unnecessary to provide separate pins or other special means. Other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a view in perspective illustrating an adjustable shoring system embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating bracing connections for each of four adjusted positions of an extension frame of the system of FIG. 1, with the extension frame shown schematically laterally ofi'set from its coplanar positions in FIG. 1 to illustrate the four separate adjustment steps,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section, through the plane 3-3 shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment of the gooser braces in the system of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in cross section illustrating the adjustable support pin arrangement for the extension frames of the system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The system shown in FIG. 1 includes a pair of facing base frames 1 and a pair of facing extension frames 2 interconnected by bracing as will be described. The simplified system v are in the holes 10a,

shown includes only one base frame 1 under each frame 2, but it will be appreciated that in actual use there will probably be a series'of base frames 1 stacked atop one another in conventional fashion.

Each base frame 1 includes a pair of parallel tubular vertical legs 3 with a fixed X-brace 4 extending between them. Extending between the tops of the legs 3 are a pair of vertically spaced horizontal headers 5 which are also suitably permanently fixed in place. Cross braces 6 extend between the two base frames 1 and are removably fixed to the legs 3 by pins or any other suitable means to form an interconnected base unit.

Each extension frame 2 has a pair of parallel tubular vertical legs 7 slightly smaller in diameter than the tubular legs 3 so as to be telescopically received therein. Fixed to and extending between the tops of the legs 7 are a pair of vertically spaced horizontal headers 8, and fixed diagonal braces 9 extend between the two headers 8 for extra strength.

As indicated, the extension frame legs 7 are telescopically received in the base frame legs 3, and the extension frames 2 can thus be vertically extended and retracted with respect to the base frames 1. The base frame legs 3 are each provided with a series of five equally vertically spaced openings 10 extending therethrough, and these removably receive transverse headed support pins 11. When the support pins 11 are in place in particular openings 10, the extension frame legs 7 rest on and are supported by them, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the choice of the particular opening 10 will therefore determine the extended height of the base frame 2. The support pins 11 can be suitably locked in place by cotter pins (not shown) or other known means extending through their free ends. This is a conventional way of adjusting the frames 2; but it would also be possible to provide a series of openings through the legs 7 which could receive pins, in which case the pins would rest on the tops of the legs 3. If desired, mating openings could be provided through both the legs 3 .and the legs 7 and the pins could extend through both. It is a particular advantage of this invention that these or any other conventional means of adjusting the extension frames can be used, so long as there are at least 1. The gooser braces 12 are of fixed length and include shafts 13 provided at each end with hook elements 14 which, as illustrated by FIG. 3, hook over

respective headers

5 or 8, the

headers

5 or 8 thus serving as attachment points for the opposite ends of the goosers 12. L-shaped locking pins I5 carried by laterally extending, U-shaped brackets 16 on the hook portions 14 are under the headers when the goosers 12 are in place to prevent them from being disengaged. As seen in FIG. 3, a compression spring 17 is disposed around pin 15 and has its left end seated against a drive pin 17 fixed to the pin 15 and its right end seated against the right leg of the bracket 16. Thus, the pin 15 can be retracted to the right from the position shown so that the brace 12 can be removed. The construction and use of gooser braces per se is well known to those skilled in the art, but they have not heretofore been used to brace adjustable extension frames in the manner to be described.

Since there are five openings 10 in each of the base frame legs 3, the extension frames 2 may be put in any five extended positions with respect to the base frames 1. When the pins II are in the lowermost opening 10 (these lowermost openings being indicated by the reference numerals 10') the extension frames 2 are only slightly extended and no bracing is required or provided, so this lowermost position can be disregarded for the purposes of this invention, leaving four positions or steps for which there is bracing. For the far left leg 3 as seen in FIG. 1, the remaining four openings 10 have been designated 10a through 10d to indicate the successive steps. When the pins 11 the frames 2 are in the lowest braced position, and when they are in openings 10d, the frames 2 are fully extended or in the highest braced position.

The openings 101-1011 provide four equal incremental steps of adjustment. The headers 5 of the base frames 1 are spaced apart a vertical distance equal to two of these adjustment steps, or in other words twice the distance between any two adjacent openings 10. The headers 8 of each extension frame 2 are spaced apart a distance equal to one step, or in other words the distance between two adjacent openings 10. Because of this spacing, gooser braces 12 of the same length can be used to provide bracing for any of the four adjustment steps above the lowermost position, all as illustrated by FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the reference characters 10a-10d are used to identify the several positions of the frames 2, these positions corresponding to those assumed when the pins 11 are in these openings. in FIG. 2, the frame 2 is shown laterally moved for each step for purposes of clarity, but it will be obvious that it will only move vertically. As can be seen from FIG. 2, when the extension frames 2 are in their first or lowest braced position 10a the gooser braces 12 extend between the uppermost headers 8 of the extension frames 2 and the lowermost headers 5 of the opposite base frames 1. When the extension frames 2 are then moved upwardly a single step to position 10b, the lower ends of the goosers 12 remain on the lower headers 5 of the base frames 1 but their upper ends are transferred to the lower headers 8 of the extension frames 2. Since the distance between the upper and lower headers 8 of the extension frames 2 is equal to one step, the length of the gooser brace 12 for a given horizontal spacing between the two sets of frames remains the same. Similarly, when the extension frames 2 are moved upwardly to their third adjusted position 10c, the lower ends of the gooser braces 12 are attached to the upper headers 5 of the base frames 1 and the upper ends of the goosers 12 are attached to the upper headers 8 of the extension frames 2. When the extension frames 2 are extended to their fourth or most extended position 10d, the gooser braces 12 extend between the upper headers 5 and the lower headers 8. Again, for each of the four adjusted positions for which bracing is provided gooser braces 12 of the same length can be used for any given horizontal spacing between the opposite sets of frames.

The five-step adjustment of the extension frames 2 obviously provides only an incremental, rough adjustment, and fine adjustment is accomplished in conventional fashion by means of upper screwjack such as the jack 18 in FIG. 1 (there will of course be a jack for each leg 7) and/or base-type screwjacks 19 under the base frame legs 3, all as is well known to those skilled in the art.

Thus, it is possible with this invention to provide a fully braced adjustable shoring system which does not require the provision of braces of varying length or expensive adapter pins or other components. The gooser braces 12 are easy to attach and remove, but still provide highly effective bracing. The entire system is efficient but yet relatively simple and inexpensive. A particular advantage is that, since the bracing for the two extension frames is independent, the two frames 2 can readily be supported at different heights.

While the invention contemplates the use of gooser braces of fixed length, the braces need not necessarily be incapable of longitudinal adjustment. It may, for example, be desirable to provide adjustable goosers, which can be made shorter or longer, to provide for bracing when the opposite base and extension frames are spaced closer or further horizontally. For a given horizontal spacing, however, gooser braces of the same length can be used for all four vertical positions of each exten sion frame. Thus, references to gooser braces of fixed length" are not meant to preclude the use of adjustable goosers, but only mean that goosers that are of or are set at a certain length can be used to provide bracing in all four vertical positions.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that modifications in both structure and use might be made without departure from the spirit of the invention. The invention is obviously applicable to scaffolding or other systems in addition to shoring systems. Further, although it is a particular advantage that structural headers can be used as attachment points, pins or other attachment point means could be used instead. While the embodiment shown provides for only four braced steps of adjustment, it will be obvious that by duplicating parts provision could be made for additional braced steps. Means other than the pins 11 and openings 10 could be used to provide the basic step adjustment; and other variations might be made in the particular configurations of the elements shown. In view of the possible modifications, it is not intended that the invention be limited by the showing herein or in any other manner except as may specifically be required by the claims appended hereto.

1 claim:

1. in an adjustable shoring system or the like including a pair of facing base frames and a pair of facing extension frames, with one extension frame being supported on each base frame, the improvement wherein:

at least one of the extension frames is vertically adjustable with respect to its associated base frame; and there is support means interposed between said adjustable extension frame and said associated baseframe so that said adjustable extension frame can be supported on said associated base frame in any of a series of at least four equally vertically spaced steps; and said adjustable extension frame and the opposite base frame are each provided with a set of two vertically spaced attachment point means, the attachment point means on one of said frames being vertically spaced apart a distance equal to the distance moved by said adjustable extension frame in one step of adjustment and the attachment point means on the other of said frames being vertically spaced apart a distance equal to the distance moved by said adjustable extension frame in two steps of adjustment; and there is a gooser brace of fixed length having opposite ends removably attachable to said attachment point means, the length of said gooser brace being such that when the said adjustable extension frame is in the lowermost of its four positions of adjustment one end thereof can be attached to the lowermost attachment point means of said opposite base frame and the other end thereof can be attached to the uppermost attachment point means of said adjustable extension frame.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said adjustable extension frame and said opposite base frame each have opposite, parallel vertical legs; and all of said attachment point means comprise horizontal headers secured to and extending between said legs.

3. In an adjustable shoring system or the like including a pair of facing base frames and a pair of facing extension frames mounted on respective base frames, the improvement wherein:

there are support means interposed between the base and extension frames so that each extension frame can be mounted on its associated base frame in any ofa series of at least four equally vertically spaced steps; and each of the base and extension frames is provided with a set of two vertically spaced attachment point means; and, with respect to each extension frame and the opposite base frame, the vertical spacing between the attachment point means on one of said frames is equal to the distance moved by the extension frame in one step of adjustment and the vertical spacing between the attachment point means of the other frame is equal to the distance moved by the extension frame in two steps of adjustment; and there are at least two gooser braces of fixed length having opposite ends which are adapted to be removably connected to the attachment point means, there being one gooser brace connected to and extending between one attachment point means of each extension frame and one attachment point means of the opposite base frame, the length of the gooser braces being such that when the extension frame is in the lowermost of its four positions of adjustment the gooser brace is adapted to be connected 4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of the extension and to and extend between the lower attachment point means base frames has opposite, parallel vertical legs; and all of the of the base frame and the upper attachment point means attachment point means comprise horizontal headers secured of the extension frame. to and extending between said legs.

Claims

1. In an adjustable shoring system or the like including a pair of facing base frames and a pair of facing extension frames, with one extension frame being supported on each base frame, the improvement wherein: at least one of the extension frames is vertically adjustable with respect to its associated base frame; and there is support means interposed between said adjustable extension frame and said associated base frame so that said adjustable extension frame can be supported on said associated base frame in any of a series of at least four equally vertically spaced steps; and said adjustable extension frame and the opposite base frame are each provided with a set of two vertically spaced attachment point means, the attachment point means on one of said frames being vertically spaced apart a distance equal to the distance moved by said adjustable extension frame in one step of adjustment and the attachment point means on the other of said frames being vertically spaced apart a distance equal to the distance moved by said adjustable extension frame in two steps of adjustment; and there is a gooser brace of fixed length having opposite ends removably attachable to said attachment point means, the length of said gooser brace being such that when the said adjustable extension frame is in the lowermost of its four positions of adjustment one end thereof can be attached to the lowermost attachment point means of said opposite base frame and the other end thereof can be attached to the uppermost attachment point means of said adjustable extension frame.

3. In an adjustable shoring system or the like including a pair of facing base frames and a pair of facing extension frames mounted on respective base frames, the improvement wherein: there are support means interposed between the base and extension frames so that each extension frame can be mounted on its associated base frame in any of a series of at least four equally vertically spaced steps; and each of the base and extension frames is provided with a set of two vertically spaced attachment point means; and, with respect to each extension frame and the opposite base frame, the vertical spacing between the attachment point means on one of said frames is equal to the distance moved by the extension frame in one step of adjustment and the vertical spacing between the attachment point means of the other frame is equal to the distance moved by the extension frame in two steps of adjustment; and there are at least two gooser braces of fixed length having opposite ends which are adapted to be removably connected to the attachment point means, there being one gooser brace connected to and extending between one attachment point means of each extension frame and one attachment point means of the opposite base frame, the length of the gooser braces being such that when the extension frame is in the lowermost of its four positions of adjustment the gooser brace is adapted to be connected to and extend between the lower attachment point means of the base frame and the upper attachment point means of the extension frame.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each of the extension and base frames has opposite, parallel vertical legs; and all of the attachment point means comprise horizontal headers secured to and extending between said legs.