US3782499A

US3782499A - Toe board assembly for scaffold platforms

Info

Publication number: US3782499A
Application number: US00313122A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Fisher
Original assignee: Up Right Inc
Current assignee: W R CARPENTER HOLDING PTY Ltd; Up Right Inc
Priority date: 1972-12-07
Filing date: 1972-12-07
Publication date: 1974-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-01
Also published as: AU474368B2; FR2210203A5; GB1445742A; DE2358000A1; AU6123473A; JPS4988317A; IT994458B; JPS5757580B2

Abstract

A toe board assembly for surrounding and extending upwardly from the perimeter of a flat scaffold platform, the toe board assembly having side and end girder members hinged together to fold into a small compact package and to unfold into an open rectangular frame, the toe board assembly having platform-engaging surfaces to prevent longitudinal, transverse or vertical movement of the toe board assembly relative to the scaffold and platform when assembled thereto, the toe board being easily attachable and detachable without the use of tools.

Description

United States Patent [191 Fisher Jan. 1,1974

I TOE BOARD ASSEMBLY FOR SCAF FOLD PLATFORMS 52 u.s.c1 182/230, 182/129, 182/222 51 1111.01. ..E04g 5/00 58 Field of Search 182/222, 223, 178,

69,359 6/l958 France 182/1 l3 Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado AttrneyCarlisle M. Moore 7] ABSTRACT A toe board assembly for surrounding and extending upwardly from the perimeter of a flat scaffold platform, the toe board assembly having side and end girder members hinged together to fold into a small compact package and to unfold into anopen rectan- [56] References Cited gular frame, the toe board assembly having platform- UNITED STATES PATENTS engaging surfaces to prevent longitudinal, transverse 1,943,871 1/1934 Landberg 182/ 179 or vertical movement of the toe board assembly rela- 2,582.385 1/1952 Knudsen 182/113 tive to the scaffold and platform when assembled 3.1 .212 4/1965 g.... 182/178 thereto, the toe board being easily attachable and de- 3,613,832 10/1971 Dunster [82/179 tachable without the use f tools FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,181,390 11/1964 Germany 182/113 15 Claims, Drawing Figures J J f y 1 39 38 25 Y E: 29 42 28b 1 g3 36 42 I/' 280 32 39 3a 33 PATENTEB JAN 1 4 SHEET 1 [IF 3 FlG 5 FlG 6 FIG..? 3.

TOE BOARD ASSEMBLY FOR SCAFFOLD PLATFORMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to temporary scaffolding, i.e., scaffolding which is erected at a work site and dismantled when the job is done, of the type wherein opposed end frames made up of vertical column members and horizontal tubing members are set up and one or more vertically spaced platforms are secured to the end frames, extending horizontally between the end frames.

In general, there are two types of such temporary scaffolding that are in common usage. One type is the folding stairway scaffold, as exemplified in the Johnson et al. US. Pat. No. 2,438,173 or Fisher Pat. No. 3,221,837, wherein the end frames, stairway and platform support members are permanently connected to each other and arranged so that a scaffold unit can be folded into a compact package and unfolded for scaffold use. Such scaffold units can be easily stacked, one on top of another, so that a scaffold tower can be built up to a desired height. In this type of scaffold the platforms are typically flat pieces of plywood, completely detachable, and with a locating hole near each comer thereof. When in use, such platforms rest on two parallel tubing members which extend between and are permanently connected to the end frames, the platform being located on and held against shifting relative to the tubing members by upwardly projecting pins on the tubing members which fit into the platform holes.

The other general type of temporary scaffolding is that exemplified in Johnson et al. US. Pat. No. 3,454,131, wherein separate end frames are built up to the desired height, the opposed end frames being connected together by diagonal bracing members. In this type of scaffolding, the removable platform or platforms are assembled to the scaffold to rest on and extend between horizontal tubing members of the opposed end frames. In packaged units, the platform members usually comprise a standard size sheet of plywood permanently secured to two or more parallel tubing members which underlie and extend lengthwise of the platform, the tubing members being provided with downfacing hooks at both ends thereof for attachment to the desired horizontal tubing members of the opposed end frames.

It has long been a scaffolding practice to provide a scaffold platform with an upstanding toe board at the edge of a platform to prevent tools or other items from sliding off the platform and falling on people below. The term toe boar comes from early scaffold practice wherein narrow boards were set on edge along the edge of a platform and toe-nailed into place. Although the safety benefits of such toe boards have long been recognized, the use of toe boards was often regarded as an expensive and, hence, unnecessary optional practice. To increase their use, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, effective August, 1971, now requires that a 4-inch-high toe board be provided on all four sides of all working platforms over 6 feet in height. Non-working platforms, e.g., access platforms, are not included in the requirement.

Although the old type of toe boards, wherein separate pieces are separately nailed or bolted to the platform, would meet present Federal requirements, such type is not well suited for modern-temporary scaffolding wherein the emphasis is on portability, and on erection and disassembly without the need for tools.

Instead, what is desired is a toe board assembly having no loose parts which might be easily misplaced or lost; capable of being folded up into a small compact package for handling and transport; and, which can be easily unfolded after it has been carried to the platform and attached to the platform without any tools being used.

In addition, scaffold platforms, however constructed, are subject to substantial loads of personnel and material when in use. As the platform sags under this weight, there will be a gap, an arcuate space, between the upper surface of the platform and the lower edge of the longitudinal toe boards. This gap, by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, shouldnot exceed onehalf, inch. As a consequence, it is desirable that the toe board be attachable to the scaffold platform so that the toe board supports the platform against sag by virtue of the beam strength and stiffness of the toe boards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main objects of the present invention are achieved by the use of four girder members each having a vertical surface which extends upwardly above the platform and one or more transversely extending flanges, so that the girder members are stiffened against vertical or horizontal flexure, the girder members being hinged together at their ends and the end girder member being hinged at their midpoint so that the members may be folded into a compact package and may be unfolded into a rectangular frame for assembly with the platform.

When the toe board assembly is installed in place, the end members of the toe board assembly fit over the ends of the platform so that lengthwise shifting of the toe board relative to the platform is prevented. Means are provided on the toe board assembly for securing the toe board assembly against transverse movement relative to the platform.

The toe board assembly is readily installed and removed from scaffold platforms already in place. As a consequence it can be installed on any platform level where work is being carried out, and can be removed and reinstalled at another level for further work operations, thereby saving substantially in the cost and expense that would be incurred if all platforms in a multiple platform scaffold were to be equipped with toe boards.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a typical prior art scaffold having vertical and horizontal tubing members showing the manner in which a typical sheet material platform member is mounted in the scaffold;

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail of a typical prior art stairway-type scaffold wherein horizontal platform support tubing members are permanently connected to the horizontal end frame members and wherein the platform is removably secured to the platform support tubing members;

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail of a typical prior art spantype scaffold wherein the platform is permanently attached to platform tubing members and the latter are detachably secured to the horizontal end frame members;

FIGS. 4-8 illustrate a toe board assembly having particular use with platforms in a stairway-type scaffold, FIG. 4 being a plan view of the unfolded assembly before it is attached to the scaffold;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the toe board assembly, taken on line 55 of FIG. 4, and showing the assembly in place on the scaffold platform;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the toe board assembly of FIG. 4, and showing the assembly in place on the scaffold;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the end of the toe board assembly, taken on line 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a detail view, in plan and with portions broken away, of a part of one of the end members;

FIGS. 9-16 illustrate a toe board assembly having particular usewith platforms in span-type scaffolds, FIG. 9 being a plan view of the toe board assembly, in unfolded position and before attachment to the scaffold platform;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view through one of the end members, taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9, showing the assembly attached to a scaffold platform;

FIG. 11 is a sectional detail through one of the side members, taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9 but after initial attachment to the platform and showing the side member pivoted outwardly;

FIG. 12 is an end view of the assembly, as seen from 12-12 of FIG. 9 after attachment to the platform;

FIG. 13 is a detail elevational view of the platform lock on the side members, as seen from 13-13 of FIG.

FIGS. 14-16 are sectional views, taken on line 14l4 of FIG. 13, illustrating the operation of the platform lock;

FIGS. 17-20 illustrate another form of toe board assembly having particular use in span-type scaffolds, wherein the toe board itself serves as the structural support for the platrform, FIG. 17 being a plan view of the toe board assembly in unfolded position;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of a portion of the toe board assembly of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view through one of the end members, taken on line 19-19 of FIG. 17;

FIG. is a transverse sectional view through the toe board assembly, taken on line 20-20 of FIG. 17.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As mentioned above, the present invention has utility with stairway-type scaffolds as shown in Johnson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,438,173 or Fisher U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,837, or span-type scaffolds as shown in Johnson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,131. The disclosures of these patents are included herein for reference.

As far as the present invention is concerned, the stairwayand span-type scaffolds are similar in that, as shown in FIG. 1 herein, each type has opposed end frames 1 1 and 12, which may be erected to the desired height, each end frame having vertical column members 13 and horizontal tubing members 14 which are permanently secured to and extend between the column members 13. Generally, for each horizontal tubing member 14 on one end frame there will be a corresponding horizontal tubing member 14 on the opposed end frame at the same height above the ground. Two or more parallel tubing members 15 are secured to and extend between corresponding horizontal tubing members 14, the tubing members 15 serving as a support for the platform 16 which is typically a plywood sheet.

In a stairway-type scaffold, the platfonn support members 15 are permanently secured to the end frame members 14, by trunions 17 (FIG. 2). After erection of a stairway section the completely detachable platform 16 is laid down on the platform support member, with the locating pins 18 on the platform support members extending into the corner holes 19 of the platform.

In a span-type scaffold, the platform 16 is generally permanently fastened to two or more parallel platform support members 15, as by bolts 21 (FIG. 3). The support members 15b are provided with downfacing hooks 22 at their ends to engage the horizontal members 14 of the end frames. If desired, conventional hooks having spring-pressed locking pins 23 may be used to releasably lock the platform to the end frames. In a spantype scaffold, the end frames are erected to a desired height'and one or more platform assemblies are then secured to the end frames at whatever heights are desired.

FIGS. 4-8 illustrate one form of a toe board assembly, referred to generally by the reference numeral 25, adapted to particular use with platforms of a stairwaytype scaffold, i.e., wherein the platform 16 rests on and is removable from the platform support members 15. Toe board assembly 25 comprises two

side members

26 and 27 and two

end members

28 and 29, the ends of these members being connected together by

hinges

31, 32, 33 and 34. End member 28 comprises two end-

toend sections

28a and 28b which are connected together by the outside hinge 36 so that the

end sections

28a and 28b may be folded together. End member 29 is similarly constructed and hinged. The four corner hinges and the two end hinges enable the side and end members to fold, in a direction shown by the arrows on FIG. 4, into a flat package, or to unfold to the FIG. 4 position. When folded flat, i.e., with the end sections folded parallel to each other and parallel to the side members, the total width of the package will be approximately equal to the combined width of the two side member flanges 39 plus the combined width of the flanges 39 on

end members

26 or 27.

Each side member comprises a longitudinally extending girder, preferably made of an aluminum alloy for lightness in weight, stifiness and strength, having an upright web 37 with a vertical surface 38 facing inwardly, and outwardly extending horizontal flanges 39 and 40 at the upper and lower ends thereof. The vertical surfaces 38 have a height of at least 4 inches. Each

end member

28 and 29 comprises a transversely extending girder having an upright web 41 with a vertical surface 42 facing inwardly and an outwardly extending horizontal flange 43 at the upper end thereof. As shown in FIG. 8, the vertical hinge pin 43 of hinge 36 is spaced outwardly from the webs 41 of the

end sections

280 and 28b at least as far as the width of the flange 43.

In use, after the scaffold has been erected and the platform 16 has been put in place on the platform tubing members 15, the folded toe board assembly is brought up to the platform. The workman then unfolds it so that it forms a rectangular frame (FIG. 4). The

side members

26 and 27 are designed so as to be slightly longer than the length of the platform 16, so that the opposed vertical surfaces 42 of the end members are spaced apart slightly more than the length of the platform. The toe board assembly is then shifted on the platform so that the end members fit over the ends of the platform. When in place, the lower edge 42a of the end member vertical surfaces 42 abut the end edges of the platform so that the platform is confined therebetween and no longitudinal shifting of the toe board assembly relative to the platform can occur. As further shown in FIG. 5, the

end members

28 and 29 extend downwardly sufficiently far so that the extreme lower portion 41a of the web 41 is received between the platform support members, the web having a length just slightly less than the distance between the tubing members so that it can fit therebetween. Transverse movement of the toe board assembly on the platform is then prevented by the sidewise engagement of the lower web portion 41a with the tubing members 15.

As mentioned above, platform 16 is separate from and rests on platform support members 15. Oftentimes a sudden upward gust of wind can dislodge the platform from the locking pins 18 unless some additional clamp or wind clip is used to tie the platform down to the scaffold. In the present toe board assembly 25, this tiedown function is achieved easily by the hooks 45 which are pivotally mounted by pins 46 on end member 28, as shown in FIG. 6 and in the same manner on the opposite end member 29. Spring washers 47 on the pins 46 and between the hooks and end members are preferably used to maintain the hooks in the upper position, shown on the left in FIG. 6, the hooks then all being swung down to engage the under surface of the platform support members 15 after the toe board assembly is installed, as shown on the right in FIG. 6. Thus after the toe board assembly is installed, the lower flanges 40 of the side members rest on the upper surface of platform 16, extending the length thereof, and hold the platform down, while the hooks 46 prevent upward movement of the toe board assembly relative to the platform support members 15.

As is thus apparent, the toe board assembly is a fully complete unit, easily installed without the use of tools. Once installed, it is held against sidewise, lengthwise or vertical movement. The girder construction of the side and end members resist tilting or buckling as might occur by the user standing on these members or pushing or kicking them with his feet.

FIGS. 9-16 illustrate another toe board assembly 50 which has particular utility with scaffolds of the span type, i.e., wherein the platform 16 is permanently bolted -to the parallel platform support members 15 thereunder, as in FIG. 3.

As before, toe board assembly 50 comprises two

side members

51 and 52 and two

end members

53 and 54, hinged together at their ends by

hinges

56, 57, 58 and 59. End member 53 again comprises two end-to-

end sections

53a and 53b connected together by hinge 61. End member 54 is similarly constructed and hinged at the middle, so that the entire assembly can fold into a compact package or unfold into an open rectangular frame.

Each

side member

51 and 52 comprises a longitudinally extending girder having an upright web 62 with an inwardly facing vertical surface 63 of a height equal to the thickness of the platform 16 plus at least the height required for a toe board. The girder is formed with an outwardly projecting horizontal flange 64 at the upper end thereof and an inwardly projecting horizontal flange 65 at the lower end thereof.

Each end member comprises a transversely extending girder having a vertical web 66 with an inwardly facing vertical surface 67 of a height approximately equal to the height of the side member vertical surfaces 63, but sufficiently less so that the members may fold upon each other. The end member girders are formed with an outwardly projecting horizontal flange 68 at the upper end thereof, the hinge pin 69 of hinge 61 being spaced outwardly from the end member webs a distance at least as great as the width of the flanges 68.

Side member 52, in addition to being connected to end

members

53 and 54 for hinged movement about vertical axes relative thereto, is also connected to these end members for pivotal movement relative thereto about a horizontal axis. As best seen in FIG. 11, hinge 58 comprises two hinge leaves 71 and 72 and normally vertical hinge pin 73. Hinge leaf 71 is immovably connected to side member web 62 by rivets 74. I-Iinge leaf 72 is permanently secured at its upper end to the web 66 of end member section 53a by pivot pin 76, hinge leaf 72 having a stub 77 secured thereto which projects outwardly through arcuate slot 78 in end member web 66, the stub having an enlarged head 79 on the other, or out, side of web 66. Hinge 57, at the other end of side member 52, similarly secured to the webs of side member 52 and end member 54. By this arrangement, the lower end of the side member 52 may be pivoted about the axis of pin 76 so that the innermost edge 65a of lower flange 65 is outward of the lower ends of the

end members

53 and 54, i.e., to the position shown in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 12, end member section 53a has a latch member 811 pivotally mounted on the outside surface of web 66 thereof by pivot pin 82, the latch member having a hook 83 adapted to engage stub 77 and hold it against movement in slot 78 when the side member has been pivoted to a vertical position.

In the use of the toe board assembly 50, as thus far described, the folded assembly is carried to an erected platform of the scaffold and is unfolded to a rectangular frame, i.e., as in FIG. 9. The assembly is moved transversely on the platform so that the flange 65 on side member 51 passes beyond and drops below the side edge of the platform, the toe board assemlby being then pulled back so that the flange 65 on side member 51 underlies the length of the platform. At the same time, the toe board assembly is maneuvered lengthwise of the platform so that the end member webs drop over the ends of the platform and rest on the platform support members 15 with the lowermost portions of the vertical end member surfaces 63 being in abutting relation to the ends of the platform 16.

At this time, the lower flange 65 of side member 52 is resting on the upper surface of platform 16 along the edge thereof. Latches 81 are released, and side member 52 is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 11, allowing the lower flange 65 to move out beyond and then drop below the edge of the platform. Side member 52 is then moved back to vertical position, with flange 65 thereof underlying the length of the platform edge, the side member being then latched in place by latches 81 on the end members.

As thus assembled, the lowermost vertical surfaces on the end member abut the end edge of the platform and prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween. Similarly, the lowermost vertical surfaces of the side members abut the side edges of the platform and prevent relative transverse movement therebetween. The end members of the toe board assembly rest on platform support members 15, and the side member flanges 65 engage the underneath of the platform (which is bolted to the support members and accordingly the toe board assembly is also prevented from vertical movement.

In span-type scaffolds of considerable length, the load on the platform may cause the platform to sag at its midpoint. With the present toe board the platform is supported along both sides thereof by the side member flanges 65, and the structural strength of the side member girders is thus imparted to the platform to prevent such sag.

At the same time, if the length of the platform and toe board assembly is considerable, an outward force on a side member (as might occur if the user pushes it with his foot or accidentally hits it with a tool) may cause the side member to bow outwardly and open up an objectionable longitudinal gap between the platform and sidemember. Also, if this occurred, the vertical support given to the platform by the side member would be lost.

In order to prevent such outward bowing of the side members, one or more double-hinge locks 85 may be permanently secured to each

side member

51 and 52. As best seen in FIGS. 13-16, lock 85 comprises a central hinge leaf 86 attached to side member web 62 by rivets 87, a latch hinge leaf 88 secured to the central hinge leaf by the lower horizontal hinge pin 89 and a lock hinge leaf 90 secured to central hinge leaf 86 by the upper hinge pin 91. Preferably spring 92 is utilized to bias lock hinge leaf 90 to a closed position relative to the central hinge leaf 86. Latch hinge leaf 88 has a latch pin 93 projecting outwardly therefrom, which pin can project through a hole 94 in lock hinge leaf 90 when the hinge leaves are in the normal foldedtogether position shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

After the toe board assembly has been attached to the platform, as previously described, the lock hinge 90 will be grasped by the-finger grips 95 and rotated upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 15, allowing the latch hinge leaf 88 to be rotated downwardly to a horizontal position so that latch pin 93 enters a preformed hole 96 through and spaced from the side edge of platform 16. The lock hinge leaf 90 is then released, spring 92 returning it downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 16. The length of lock hinge leaf 90 is such that it will engage the upper surface of latch hinge leaf 88 and thereby prevent upward movement of that leaf and of latch pin 89. As a result, the interengagement of latch pin 89 and platform hole 96 will prevent transverse bowing of side member 52 relative to the platform. After use, the lock hinge leaf 90 is merely pivoted upwardly, allowing the latch hinge leaf to be pivoted flat against the central hinge leaf, the lock hinge leaf being then released so that spring 92 moves the lock hinge leaf down against the latch hinge leaf, i.e., FIG. 14, and holds the device in its inactive position until the next time it is used.

In addition to latching the side member 52 to the platform to prevent bowing of the side member, the lock hinge leaf 90 supports the side member on the platform so that if a workman stands on the upper flange 69 of the side member 52, the downward force on the side member will be transmitted downwardly through the lock assembly to the platform 15 so that the strength of the platform will help resist downward flexure of the side member.

Although the toe board assembly 50 has been described in connection with a platform 16 as would be used in a span-type scaffold, it is apparent that the same assembly could be used in the same way with a platform in a stairway-type scaffold. However, if it were so used, it would be preferable to add the locking hooks 45 of FIGS. 6 and 7 to the

end members

53 and 54 of the toe board assembly 50, so that the assembly could be locked into engagement with the under surface of the platform support members 15 to prevent upward movement of the platform and toe board assembly relative to the support members 15.

Conversely, the toe board assembly 25, described for use with a stairway scaffold platform, could be used with a span-type scaffold platform.

FIGS. 17-20 illustrate yet another form of toe board assembly 100 which may be used in a span-type scaffold. In this form, the toe board assembly 100 provides the only structural support for the platform, the normal platform support members 15 not being used.

Toe board assembly 100 again comprises two

opposed side members

101 and 102 and two

opposed end members

103 and 104, the members being connected together at their ends by

hinges

106, 107, 108 and 109. Again, end member 103 comprises two end-to-

end sections

103a and 103b, connected together by central hinge 111. End member 104 is similarly constructed and hinged, and again the assembly can be folded into a compact package and unfolded into an open rectangular frame.

Each side member comprises a longitudinally extending girder having an upright web 112 with an inwardly facing vertical surface 113, the girder having an outwardly projecting flange 114 at the upper end thereof and an inwardly projecting flange 115 at the lower end thereof.

Each end member comprises a transversely extending girder having an upright web 116 with an inwardly facing vertical surface 117, the girder having an out wardly projecting flange 118 at the upper end thereof and an inwardly projecting flange 119 at the lower end thereof.

As before, the vertical hinge pin 121 of hinge 111 is spaced outwardly of end member 116 at least as far as the width of the upper end member flange 118. In contrast with the previous

toe board assemblies

25 and 50, wherein the hinge pins of the comer hinges are as close to the comer as possible, hinge pins 122 of the corner hinges of the toe board assembly are spaced away from the side member flanges, the spacing being at least equal to the width of the lower end member flanges 119, so that the end member sections may be folded parallel to the side members.

Each side member has permanently secured at each end thereof a vertically oriented plate member 125 having a downfacing hook 126 formed at the end thereof, the hook being adapted to engage and rest on one of the horizontal tubing members 14 of the end frames 11 and 12 of the scaffold. Preferably a latch 127 is pivotally mounted by pin 128 on each plate 125, the latches being adapted to pivot into engagement with the under surface of tubing members 14 to secure the toe board assembly against accidental dislodgment upwardly from the end frames of the scaffold.

in use, after the end frames 11 and 12 of the scaffold have been erected, the folded toe board assembly 100 is carried to the scaffold. The toe board assembly may first be unfolded into a rectangular frame and then hooked onto the end frame tubing members 14, or, if desired, the folded package may be hooked onto the tubing members 14 with both ends of the toe board assembly being then unfolded at the same time, causing the hook members 126 to slide along the tubing members 14. After the toe board assembly has been unfolded and secured to the tubular members 14, the platform 16 is laid down inside the toe board assembly, to rest on the inwardly projecting

bottom flanges

115 and 119 of the side and end members. The platform will be of a size to fit relatively snugly in the frame so that the edges of the platform will closely abut the vertical surfaces of the end and side members to prevent longitudinal or transverse shifting therebetween. The corners of the platform may be notched so that they will fit over the comer hinges more easily.

Inasmuch as the sole support for the platform is provided by the side and end members of the toe board assembly, it is preferred to attach flexible cables to the side members, three

cables

131, 132 and 133 being shown in the drawings, one at each end and one in the middle. These cables, preferably galvanized steel aircraft cables, are of a length such that they will be taut when the toe board assembly has been unfolded to its rectangular frame position. The two

end cables

131 and 133 will strengthen the ends of the toe board assembly against a lateral outward force applied to one of the side members which otherwise would be resisted solely by the hinge connections between the members. The central cable 132 extending beneath the center of the platform will prevent bowing and spreading of the

side members

101 and 102 and will provide a support under the platform to limit sagging thereof.

lf desired, a double-hinge lock, as described in connection with FIGS. 13-16, may be attached to the

side members

101 and 102 to provide a means for holding the platform 16 down in the toe board assembly against the force of upward gusts of wind. Since the central cable 132 acts to prevent outward bowing of the side members, such double-hinge lock need not be provided with the latch pin 93. I

In all of the above-described forms of the invention, the toe board assemblies can only be installed in one manner. As a result, the assemblies are foolproof in use, even when used by untrained personnel.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A toe board assembly for detachable engagement with and for surrounding and extending upwardly from the perimeter of rectangular, flat scaffolding platforms, said toe board assembly comprising:

a pair of opposed elongated side members having upwardly extending vertical surfaces facing each other;

a pair of opposed elongated end members having upwardly extending vertical surfaces, facing each other, each end member being hinged in the middle thereof so that it can fold upon itself;

hinge means at each end of each side member connecting the ends of said end members to the ends of said side members to enable the end and side members to be folded into a compact package and to be unfolded into a rectangular frame, said vertical surfaces of said end members each having a lower portion thereof adapted to extend below the upper surface of said platform and adapted to abut the opposite end edges of said platform when said toe board assembly and platform are assembled together;

means on said toe board assembly adapted to said assembly against sidewise movement relative to said platform when said toe board assembly and platform are assembled together.

2. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said side members and each of said end members comprises an elongated girder having a vertical web and an outwardly projecting horizontal flange at the upper end thereof.

3. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 1 for use in scaffolding having spaced-apart parallel tubing members for supporting the scaffoldng platforms thereon, in which said toe board assembly includes:

hook means secured to said toe board assembly adapted to engage the tubing members of said scaffolding.

4. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hook means are rotatably mounted on said toe board assembly and are adapted to engage the under surface of said tubing members to prevent upward movement of said toe board assembly relative to said tubing members when said hook means are engaged therewith.

5. A toe board assembly set forth in claim 3 wherein said hook means are rigidly secured to said toe board assembly and face downwardly.

6. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 1 for use in scaffolding wherein the scaffolding platform is supported upon spaced-apart parallel tubing members extending lengthwise of the platform, in which said end members each have a depending portion adapted to fit between and engage the sides of said tubing members.

7. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said side members have a transversely extending flange at the lower end thereof and extending along the length thereof, said flange being adapted to engage the upper surface of said platform adjacent the side edges thereof.

8. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim ll wherein the distance between said vertical surfaces of said side member, when unfolded, is greater than the width of said platform, said side members each having an inwardly projecting horizontal flange at the lower end thereof extending lengthwise of said side members, the upper surfaces of said flanges being adapted to engage the under surface of said platform along and adjacent the side edges thereof.

9. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said assembly further includes a plurality of cables extending between said side members, said cables being flexible and inextensible and of a length such that they are taut when said toe board assembly is unfolded into a rectangular frame.

10. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 8, each side member further including a vertically disposed pin mounted thereon between the ends of said side members and spaced inwardly of said vertical surface thereon, said pin being adapted to be received within a hole in the platform when said platform is in engagement with said side member flange.

11. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 8, each side member including a clamp means mounted thereon between the ends of said side member adapted to engage the upper surface of said platform and to restrain upward movement of said platform relative to said side member when said lower surface of said platform is in engagement with said side member flange.

12. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 8, and further including means mounting one of said side members to said end members for pivotal movement of the lower end of said side member and the flange thereon away from the other of said side members, and means for releasably latching said one side member against such pivotal movement.

13. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 12, each side member further including a vertically disposed pin mounted thereon between the ends of said side member and spaced inwardly of said vertical surface thereon, said pin being adapted to be received within a hole in the platform when said platform is in engagement with said side member flange.

14. A' toe board assembly as set forth in claim 12, each side member including a clamp means mounted thereon between the ends thereof adapted to engage the upper surface of said platform and to restrain upward movement of said platform relative to said side member when said lower surface of said platform is in engagement with said side member flange.

15. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 12, each side member having a first hinge leaf secured to the vertical surface of said side member between the ends thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis from a position generally parallel to said vertical surface to a position generally perpendicular to said vertical surface, said first hinge leaf having a pin projecting from the lower surface thereof and perpendicular thereto, said pin being spaced from the pivotal axis of said first hinge leaf, a second hinge leaf secured to the vertical surface of said side member above said first hinge leaf for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, spring means for resiliently biasing said second hinge leaf into general parallelism with said vertical surface, said second hinge leaf being adapted, when in parallelism with said vertical surface, to overlie said first hinge leaf when said first hinge leaf is generally parallel to said vertical surface and to engage the upper surface of said first hinge leaf and prevent pivotal movement of said first hinge leaf when said first hinge leaf is generally perpendicular to said vertical surface.

Claims

1. A toe board assembly for detachable engagement with and for surrounding and extending upwardly from the perimeter of rectangular, flat scaffolding platforms, said toe board assembly comprising: a pair of opposed elongated side members having upwardly extending vertical surfaces facing each other; a pair of opposed elongated end members having upwardly extending vertical surfaces, facing each other, each end member being hinged in the middle thereof so that it can fold upon itself; hinge means at each end of each side member connecting the ends of said end members to the ends of said side members to enable the end and side members to be folded into a compact package and to be unfolded into a rectangular frame, said vertical surfaces of said end members each having a lower portion thereof adapted to extend below the upper surface of said platform and adapted to abut the opposite end edges of said platform when said toe board assembly and platform are assembled together; means on Said toe board assembly adapted to said assembly against sidewise movement relative to said platform when said toe board assembly and platform are assembled together.

3. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 1 for use in scaffolding having spaced-apart parallel tubing members for supporting the scaffoldng platforms thereon, in which said toe board assembly includes: hook means secured to said toe board assembly adapted to engage the tubing members of said scaffolding.

5. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hook means are rigidly secured to said toe board assembly and face downwardly.

8. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the distance between said vertical surfaces of said side member, when unfolded, is greater than the width of said platform, said side members each having an inwardly projecting horizontal flange at the lower end thereof extending lengthwise of said side members, the upper surfaces of said flanges being adapted to engage the under surface of said platform along and adjacent the side edges thereof.

14. A toe board assembly as set forth in claim 12, each side member inCluding a clamp means mounted thereon between the ends thereof adapted to engage the upper surface of said platform and to restrain upward movement of said platform relative to said side member when said lower surface of said platform is in engagement with said side member flange.