Scaffold and Method

Abstract

A scaffold includes a first end frame assembly. The scaffold includes a second end frame assembly. The scaffold includes a first side brace assembly supported by the first end frame assembly and the second end frame assembly. The scaffold includes a second side brace assembly supported by the first end frame assembly and the second end frame assembly. Each end frame assembly has a first rail with holes and a caster assembly and a second rail with holes and a caster assembly and a horizontal that is attached to each rail. Each side brace assembly has a locking pin in proximity to each end which engages with a hole in a respective rail, and an associated guard disposed about each pin. Each locking pin has a handle which has a length that extends below the associated guard on an interior side of the guard. A method for a scaffold.

Claims

1. A scaffold comprising: a first end frame assembly; a second end frame assembly; a first side brace assembly supported by the first end frame assembly and the second end frame assembly; and a second side brace assembly supported by the first end frame assembly and the second end frame assembly; each end frame assembly having a first rail with holes and a caster assembly and a second rail with holes and a caster assembly, and a horizontal that is attached to each rail, each side brace assembly having a locking pin in proximity to each end which engages with a hole in a respective rail, and an associated guard disposed about each pin, each locking pin having a handle which has a length that extends below the associated guard on an interior side of the guard.

2. The scaffold as described in claim 1 including latch pins which hold a deck onto the side braces.

3. The scaffold as described in claim 2 wherein each side brace has a bracket in proximity to each end through which the respective pin extends.

4. The scaffold as described in claim 3 wherein each side brace assembly has a channel at either end which contacts the respective rail.

5. The scaffold as described in claim 4 wherein each side brace assembly has a knee brace at either end that extends from the channel

6. A method for a scaffold comprising the steps of: placing a locking pin in proximity to either end of a first side brace assembly into a hole of a first rail of a first end frame assembly and hole of a first rail of a second end assembly, respectively, so the first end frame assembly and the second end frame assembly supports the first side brace assembly; positioning a handle of the pin on either end of the first side brace assembly having a length which extends below a guard in proximity to either end of the first side brace assembly, respectively, on an interior side of the guard; placing a locking pin in proximity to either end of a second side brace assembly into a hole of a second rail of the first end frame assembly and a hole of a second rail of the second end assembly, respectively, so the first end frame assembly and the second end frame assembly supports the second side brace assembly; and positioning a handle of the pin on either end of the second side brace assembly having a length which extends below a guard in proximity to either end of the second side brace assembly, respectively, on an interior side of the guard.

7. The method as described in claim 6 wherein the placing step includes the step of placing the locking pin disposed in a bracket in proximity to each end of the first side brace assembly into the hole of the first rail of the first end frame assembly and the hole of the first rail of the second end assembly, respectively, so the first end frame assembly and the second end frame assembly supports the first side brace assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0010] In the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention and preferred methods of practicing the invention are illustrated in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a prior art scaffold and a locking pin.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a scaffold of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a locking pin guard relationship of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows an end frame assembly.

[0015] FIG. 6 shows a prior art solution to the problem the present invention also solves.

[0016] FIG. 7 shows a prior art solution to the problem the present invention also solves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or identical parts throughout the several views, and more specifically to FIGS. 2-5 thereof, there is shown a scaffold. The scaffold comprises a first end frame assembly 2a. The scaffold comprises a second end frame assembly 2b. The scaffold comprises a first side brace assembly 1a supported by the first end frame assembly 2a and the second end frame assembly 2b. The scaffold comprises a second side brace assembly 1b supported by the first end frame assembly 2a and the second end frame assembly 2b. Each end frame assembly has a first rail 19 with holes 17 and a caster assembly 23 and a second rail 21 with holes 17 and a caster assembly 23 and a horizontal 15 that is attached to each rail. Each side brace assembly has a locking pin 3 in proximity to each end which engages with a hole 17 in a respective rail, and an associated guard 8 disposed about each pin. Each locking pin 3 has a handle which has a length that extends below the associated guard 8 on an interior side of the guard 8.

[0018] The scaffold may include latch pins 5 which hold a deck 4 onto the side braces. Each side brace may have a bracket 25 in proximity to each end through which the respective pin extends. Each side brace assembly may have a channel 27 at either end which contacts the respective rail. Each side brace assembly may have a knee brace 29 at either end that extends from the channel 27.

[0019] The present invention pertains to a method for a scaffold. The method comprises the steps of placing a locking pin 3 in proximity to either end of a first side brace assembly 1a into a hole 17 of a first rail 19 of a first end frame assembly 2a and a hole 17 of a first rail 19 of a second end assembly, respectively, so the first end frame assembly 2a and the second end frame assembly 2b supports the first side brace assembly 1a. There is the step of positioning a handle of the pin on either end of the first side brace assembly 1a having a length which extends below a guard 8 in proximity to either end of the first side brace assembly 1a, respectively, on an interior side of the guard 8. There is the step of placing a locking pin 3 in proximity to either end of a second side brace assembly 1b into a hole 17 of a second rail 21 of the first end frame assembly 2a and a hole 17 of a second rail 21 of the second end assembly, respectively, so the first end frame assembly 2a and the second end frame assembly 2b supports the second side brace assembly 1b. There is the step of positioning a handle of the pin on either end of the second side brace assembly 1b having a length which extends below a guard 8 in proximity to either end of the second side brace assembly 1b, respectively, on an interior side of the guard 8.

[0020] The placing step can include the step of placing the locking pin 3 disposed in a bracket 25 in proximity to each end of the first side brace assembly 1a into the hole 17 of the first rail 19 of the first end frame assembly 2a and the hole 17 of the first rail 19 of the second end assembly, respectively, so the first end frame assembly 2a and the second end frame assembly 2b supports the first side brace assembly 1a.

[0021] In the operation of the invention, a simplified steel rolling scaffold is shown in FIG. 2. There are two side, brace assemblies 1a,1b connected to two end frame assemblies 2a,2b via four locking pins 3. There is a plywood deck 4 that is secured to the side braces via two latch pins 5. There are four caster assemblies 6 that are secured to the end frames 2 via four snap pins 7.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the area near the locking pin 3. Notice the length of the handle has been extended below the guard 8. The locking pin 3 is assembled on the interior side of the guard 8 so that the handle of the locking pin cannot rotate beyond the guard 8.

[0023] Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be described by the following claims.