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 method for a scaffold, the method comprising the steps of: providing the scaffold having: a first end frame assembly having a first vertical rail with holes and a first caster assembly, a second vertical rail with holes and a second caster assembly, and a horizontal rung that is attached between the first and second vertical rails; a second end frame assembly having third and fourth vertical rails with holes and a horizontal rung attached therebetween; a first horizontal side brace assembly having a first vertical channel with holes, a second vertical channel with holes, a first horizontal beam connecting said vertical channels, a guard rod extending downwardly from the first beam and directly connected between the first beam and the first vertical channel, a first L-shaped locking pin formed by a first portion having a major length extending substantially orthogonally to a major length of a second portion of the locking pin defining a handle, wherein the first horizontal side brace assembly is supported by the first and third vertical rails of the first and second end frame assemblies, and the first portion of the locking pin is configured to removably pass through the holes of the first vertical rail and the first vertical channel to adjustably lock the first horizontal side brace assembly at different heights along the first end frame assembly; a second horizontal side brace assembly supported by and extending between the second and fourth vertical rails of the first and second end frame assemblies; all elements of the guard rod, the first portion of the locking pin, the vertical channels, the first vertical rail, the third vertical rail and the first beam lie within and define a first vertical plane; all elements of the second vertical rail, the fourth vertical rail and the second side brace assembly lie within and define a second vertical plane that is substantially parallel to the first vertical plane; and the major length of the first portion of the locking pin is configured to pivot about a horizontal axis which only extends within the first vertical plane so that the second portion of the locking pin moves towards the second vertical plane to be positioned into a space located between said vertical planes, wherein the guard rod is positioned below the first portion of the locking pin a distance less than the major length of the second portion of the locking pin and the first beam is positioned above the first portion of the locking pin a distance less than the major length of the second portion of the locking pin so that the locking pin is directly blocked by one of said first horizontal beam and said guard rod when the second portion of the locking pin is moved in a direction away from said second vertical plane, and wherein the locking pin is incapable of moving beyond an opposite side of said first vertical plane with respect to said second vertical plane; placing the first locking pin in proximity to a first end of said first horizontal side brace assembly and into one of said holes of the first vertical rail of the first end frame assembly so that the first end frame assembly supports the first horizontal side brace assembly; placing a second locking pin in proximity to a second end of said first horizontal side brace assembly and into one of said holes of the third vertical rail of the second end frame assembly so that the second end frame assembly supports the first horizontal side brace assembly; positioning the handle of the first locking pin so that a length of said handle extends below the guard rod and on an interior side of the guard rod; positioning a handle of the second locking pin so that a length of said handle of the second locking pin extends below a second guard rod and on an interior side of the second guard rod; placing a third locking pin in proximity to a first end of said second horizontal side brace assembly and into one of said holes of the second vertical rail of the first end frame assembly so that the first end frame assembly supports the second horizontal side brace assembly; placing a fourth locking pin in proximity to a second end of said second horizontal side brace assembly and into one of said holes of the fourth vertical rail of the second end frame assembly so that the second end frame assembly supports the second horizontal side brace assembly; positioning a handle of the third locking pin so that a length of said handle of the third locking pin extends below a third guard rod and on an interior side of the third guard rod; and positioning a handle of the fourth looking pin so that a length of said handle of the fourth locking pin extends below a fourth guard rod and on an interior side of the fourth guard rod.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said step of placing the first locking pin includes disposing of said first locking pin in a first bracket, said step of placing the second locking pin includes disposing of said second locking pin in a second bracket, said step of placing the third locking pin includes disposing of said third locking pin in a third bracket, and said step of placing the fourth locking pin includes disposing of said fourth looking pin in a fourth bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) In the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention and preferred methods of practicing the invention are illustrated in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a prior art scaffold and a locking pin.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a scaffold of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a locking pin guard relationship of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side brace assembly.

(6) FIG. 5 shows an end frame assembly.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a prior art solution to the problem the present invention also solves.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a prior art solution to the problem the present invention also solves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) 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.

(10) 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.

(11) 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.

(12) 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.

(13) 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.

(14) 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.

(15) 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 and 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.