Scaffolding Hoist System

Abstract

A scaffolding lift assembly includes a scaffolding and a lift boom that is removably attachable to a respective one of a pair of end frameworks of the scaffolding which is pivotable in a deployed position having the lift boom extending laterally away from the respective end framework. A winch is attached to the lift boom to lift a load of building materials onto the scaffolding. A safety gate is removably attachable to a respective end framework which is biased into a closed position to inhibit a user from inadvertently passing between the pair of end frameworks and falling from the scaffolding. A side gate is removably attachable to the scaffolding and the side gate is slidable into a closed position extending between each of a pair of end sections of the scaffolding to inhibit the user from passing between the pair of end sections and inadvertently falling from the scaffolding.

Claims

1. A scaffolding lift assembly for lifting building materials onto a scaffold without the use of manual labor, said assembly comprising: a scaffolding having a pair of end sections each comprising a central framework extending between and being perpendicular to a pair of end frameworks such that said each of said pair of end sections defines a U-shape; a lift boom being removably attachable to a respective one of said pair of end frameworks of said scaffolding, said lift boom being pivotable in a deployed position having said lift boom extending laterally away from said respective end framework, said lift boom being positionable in a home position having said lift boom being aligned with said respective end framework; a winch being attached to said lift boom wherein said winch is configured to be secured to a load of building materials when said lift boom is in said deployed position, said winch being actuatable into a lifting condition wherein said winch is configured to lift the load of building materials onto said scaffolding; a safety gate being removably attachable to said respective end framework to which said lift boom is attached, said safety gate including a first gate and a second gate being hingedly coupled to said first gate, each of said first gate and said second gate being biased into a closed position such that said safety gate extends between said pair of end frameworks of said scaffolding wherein said safety gate is configured to inhibit the user from inadvertently passing between said pair of end frameworks and falling from said scaffolding, each of said first gate and said second gate being urgeable into an open position to define an opening between said pair of end frameworks wherein said safety gate is configured to facilitate the user to pass between said pair of end frameworks; and a side gate being removably attachable to said scaffolding, said side gate being slidable into a closed position having said side gate extending between each of said pair of end sections of said scaffolding wherein said side gate is configured to inhibit the user from passing between said pair of end sections and inadvertently falling from said scaffolding, said side gate being slidable into an open position having said side gate being displaced from a respective one of said pair of end sections wherein said side gate is configured to facilitate the user to pass between said pair of end sections.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said lift boom comprises: a first member being perpendicular to a second member, said second member being spaced downwardly from an upper end of said first member; an angled member being coupled to and extending between said first member and said second member such that said angled member retains said first member at said perpendicular orientation with said second member; a primary panel being pivotally attached to said upper end of said first member such that said first member extends through a top surface and a bottom surface of said primary panel; a bottom bracket having a first panel being perpendicular to a second panel, a lower end of said first member being pivotally attached to said first panel having said first member extending through an upper surface and a lower surface of said first panel such that said second panel extends downwardly from said first member; and a pivot mount being pivotally attached to said primary panel and said second panel such that said first member is pivotable on said pivot mount.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein: each of said pair of end frameworks includes an innermost member; said central framework has a lowermost member; said pivot mount includes a top bracket having a central panel extending between each of a rear panel and a forward panel; said rear panel is perpendicular to said central panel; said forward panel angles away from said rear panel; a rear surface of said rear panel is attached to a front edge of said primary panel such that said rear panel extends upwardly from said primary panel; said top bracket has a notch extending through said forward panel and said central panel; said notch is centrally located along said forward panel and said central panel; and said top bracket rests upon said lowermost member of said central framework of said respective end section having said innermost member of a respective one of said pair of end frameworks extending through said notch thereby securing said pivot mount to said respective end framework.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein: said pivot mount includes a pivot member having a lateral side being attached to an outwardly facing surface of said bottom bracket at a point located adjacent to a lower end of said pivot member; said pivot member extends through said top surface and said bottom surface of said primary panel; a front side of said pivot member is attached to said rear surface of said rear panel of said top bracket at a point being aligned with said notch in said top bracket; said pivot mount includes a bottom bracket having a middle panel extending between and being perpendicular to a pair of outward panels; a back surface of said middle panel is attached to said front side of said pivot member at a point located adjacent to said lower end of said pivot member; and said innermost member of said respective end framework is positioned between said pair of outward panels.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said pivot mount includes a pair of first screws; each of said first screws extends through said forward panel of said top bracket; each of said first screws abuts said lowermost member of said central framework when said first screws are tightened for securing said top bracket to said lowermost member; said pivot mount includes a second screw extending through a respective one of said pair of outward panels of said bottom bracket; said second screw abuts said innermost member of said respective end framework when said second screw is tightened for securing said bottom bracket to said innermost member; and said pivot mount includes a first pin being extendable through each of said pair of outward panels of said bottom bracket when said innermost member of said respective end framework is positioned in said bottom bracket such that said first pin inhibits said innermost member of said respective end framework from escaping said bottom bracket.

6. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein: said winch includes a pair of receivers; said second member of said lift boom extends through each of said pair of receivers for mounting said winch to said first member; said winch includes a cable which extends downwardly from said winch; said cable is lowered from said winch when said winch is actuated into a lowering condition; said cable is wound into said winch when said winch is actuated into said lifting condition; said winch is positioned adjacent to a distal end of said second member with respect to said first member; said winch includes a hook being coupled to a distal end of said cable with respect to said winch; said winch includes a control which includes a conductor being electrically coupled to said winch having said conductor extending downwardly from said winch; and said control is disposed on a lower end of said conductor wherein said control is configured to be accessible to a user thereby facilitating the user to actuate said winch in said lowering condition or said lifting condition.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein: said assembly includes a load support being removably attachable to said hook on said cable of said winch; said load support has a plurality of attachment elements wherein each of said plurality of attachment elements is configured to be attached to a respective load of building materials thereby facilitating said winch to lift the load of building materials; said load support comprises a plurality of arms each radiating outwardly from a central point of said load support; said load support includes a hoop being coupled to and extending upwardly from said central point of said load support; said hook on said distal end of said cable of said winch is attachable to said hoop for securing said load support to said cable; said load support includes a plurality of hooks each being attached to and extending downwardly from a respective one of said plurality of arms at a point located adjacent to an end of said respective arm; and each of said plurality of hooks on said load support defines a respective one of said plurality of attachment elements.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said first gate comprises a plurality of first gate members each being perpendicularly oriented with each other such that said first gate has a rectangular shape; said second gate comprises a plurality of second gate members each being perpendicularly oriented with each other such that said second gate has a rectangular shape; an outwardly facing surface of a respective one of said plurality of second gate members is hingedly coupled to an outwardly facing surface of a respective one of said plurality of first gate members; said safety gate includes a gate mount; and said gate mount is attachable to said end framework to which said boom mount is attached.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein: said gate mount includes a gate member having a first sidelong side being hingedly coupled to a sidelong surface of a respective one of said plurality of first gate members; said gate mount includes a primary bracket having an upper panel extending between a rearmost panel and a frontmost panel; said rearmost panel is coupled to and extends laterally away from a second sidelong side of said gate member such that said upper panel lies on a horizontal plane; and said upper panel rests on a respective one of a horizontal member of said end framework to which said lift boom is attached such that said respective horizontal member is positioned between said rearmost panel and said frontmost panel.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein: said assembly includes a first pin; said gate mount includes a second pin extending through said frontmost panel; said second pin is positioned beneath said respective horizontal member upon which said upper panel rests thereby inhibiting said primary bracket from being lifted upwardly from said respective horizontal member; said gate mount includes a secondary bracket having a back panel extending between and being perpendicularly oriented with a pair of sidelong panels; a sidelong surface of a respective one of said pair of sidelong panels of said secondary bracket is attached said second sidelong side of said gate member at a point being spaced downwardly from said primary bracket; said innermost member of said of said end framework to which said lift boom is attached extends between said pair of sidelong panels; said gate mount includes a third pin being extendable through each of said pair of sidelong panels of said secondary bracket thereby inhibiting said innermost member of said end framework on which said secondary bracket is disposed from escaping said secondary bracket; and said gate mount includes a stop being coupled to and extending laterally away from a respective one of said plurality of second gate members such that said stop abuts said innermost member of an opposing one of said pair of end frameworks with respect to said end framework on which said safety gate is disposed when said first gate and said second gate are biased into said closed position thereby retaining said first gate and said second gate in said closed position.

11. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said first gate and said second gate is urgeable into an open position having said first gate and said second gate resting against each other such that said first gate and said second gate extends rearwardly from said respective end framework on which said safety gate is disposed wherein each of said first gate and said second gate are configured to facilitate the user to pass between said pair of end frameworks.

12. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said side gate includes a gate framework which includes a lower member and a central member and an upper member; said upper member has a first end and a second end which are each attachable to a respective one of said pair of end sections of said scaffolding; said lower member has a first end and a second end which are each attachable to a respective one of said pair of end sections of said scaffolding; said gate framework has a vertical member which extends between said upper member and said lower member; said vertical member is centrally located along each of said upper member and said lower member; and said central member terminates at said vertical member.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said side gate has a first track that is disposed on said lower member and the first track extends along a substantial length of said lower member; said side gate has a second track that is disposed on said central member and the second track extends along a full length of said central member; said side gate has a topmost member which slidably engages said second track; and said side gate has a bottommost member which slidably engages said first track.

14. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein: said side gate is aligned with said first end of said upper member and said first end of said lower member when said side gate is in said closed position; and said side gate is positioned between said second end of said upper member and said second end of said lower member and said vertical member when said side gate is in said open position.

15. A scaffolding lift assembly for lifting building materials onto a scaffold without the use of manual labor, said assembly comprising: a scaffolding having a pair of end sections each comprising a central framework extending between and being perpendicular to a pair of end frameworks such that said each of said pair of end sections defines a U-shape, each of said pair of end frameworks including an innermost member, said central framework having a lowermost member; a lift boom being removably attachable to a respective one of said pair of end frameworks of said scaffolding, said lift boom being pivotable in a deployed position having said lift boom extending laterally away from said respective end framework, said lift boom being positionable in a home position having said lift boom being aligned with said respective end framework, said lift boom comprising: a first member being perpendicular to a second member, said second member being spaced downwardly from an upper end of said first member; an angled member being coupled to and extending between said first member and said second member such that said angled member retains said first member at said perpendicular orientation with said second member; a primary panel being pivotally attached to said upper end of said first member such that said first member extends through a top surface and a bottom surface of said primary panel; a bottom bracket having a first panel being perpendicular to a second panel, a lower end of said first member being pivotally attached to said first panel having said first member extending through an upper surface and a lower surface of said first panel such that said second panel extends downwardly from said first member; a pivot mount being pivotally attached to said primary panel and said second panel such that said first member is pivotable on said pivot mount, said pivot mount including: a top bracket having a central panel extending between each of a rear panel and a forward panel, said rear panel being perpendicular to said central panel, said forward panel angling away from said rear panel, a rear surface of said rear panel being attached to a front edge of said primary panel such that said rear panel extends upwardly from said primary panel, said top bracket having a notch extending through said forward panel and said central panel, said notch being centrally located along said forward panel and said central panel, said top bracket resting upon said lowermost member of said central framework of said respective end section having said innermost member of a respective one of said pair of end frameworks extending through said notch thereby securing said pivot mount to said respective end framework; a pivot member having a lateral side being attached to an outwardly facing surface of said bottom bracket at a point located adjacent to a lower end of said pivot member, said pivot member extending through said top surface and said bottom surface of said primary panel, a front side of said pivot member being attached to said rear surface of said rear panel of said top bracket at a point being aligned with said notch in said top bracket; and a bottom bracket having a middle panel extending between and being perpendicular to a pair of outward panels, a back surface of said middle panel being attached to said front side of said pivot member at a point located adjacent to said lower end of said pivot member, said innermost member of said respective end framework being positioned between said pair of outward panels; a pair of first screws, each of said first screws extending through said forward panel of said top bracket, each of said first screws abutting said lowermost member of said central framework when said first screws are tightened for securing said top bracket to said lowermost member; a second screw extending through a respective one of said pair of outward panels of said bottom bracket, said second screw abutting said innermost member of said respective end framework when said second screw is tightened for securing said bottom bracket to said innermost member; and a first pin being extendable through each of said pair of outward panels of said bottom bracket when said innermost member of said respective end framework is positioned in said bottom bracket such that said first pin inhibits said innermost member of said respective end framework from escaping said bottom bracket; a winch being attached to said lift boom wherein said winch is configured to be secured to a load of building materials when said lift boom is in said deployed position, said winch being actuatable into a lifting condition wherein said winch is configured to lift the load of building materials onto said scaffolding, said winch including a pair of receivers, said second member of said lift boom extending through each of said pair of receivers for mounting said winch to said first member, said winch including a cable which extends downwardly from said winch, said cable being lowered from said winch when said winch is actuated into a lowering condition, said cable being wound into said winch when said winch is actuated into said lifting condition, said winch being positioned adjacent to a distal end of said second member with respect to said first member; a hook being coupled to a distal end of said cable with respect to said winch; a control including a conductor being electrically coupled to said winch having said conductor extending downwardly from said winch, said control being disposed on a lower end of said conductor wherein said control is configured to be accessible to a user thereby facilitating the user to actuate said winch in said lowering condition or said lifting condition; a load support being removably attachable to said hook on said cable of said winch, said load support having a plurality of attachment elements wherein each of said plurality of attachment elements is configured to be attached to a respective load of building materials thereby facilitating said winch to lift the load of building materials, said load support comprising a plurality of arms each radiating outwardly from a central point of said load support, said load support including a hoop being coupled to and extending upwardly from said central point of said load support, said hook on said distal end of said cable of said winch being attachable to said hoop for securing said load support to said cable, said load support including a plurality of hooks each being attached to and extending downwardly from a respective one of said plurality of arms at a point located adjacent to an end of said respective arm, each of said plurality of hooks on said load support defining a respective one of said plurality of attachment elements; a safety gate being removably attachable to said respective end framework to which said lift boom is attached, said safety gate including a first gate and a second gate being hingedly coupled to said first gate, each of said first gate and said second gate being biased into a closed position such that said safety gate extends between said pair of end frameworks of said scaffolding wherein said safety gate is configured to inhibit the user from inadvertently passing between said pair of end frameworks and falling from said scaffolding, each of said first gate and said second gate being urgeable into an open position to define an opening between said pair of end frameworks wherein said safety gate is configured to facilitate the user to pass between said pair of end frameworks, said first gate comprising a plurality of first gate members each being perpendicularly oriented with each other such that said first gate has a rectangular shape, said second gate comprising a plurality of second gate members each being perpendicularly oriented with each other such that said second gate has a rectangular shape, an outwardly facing surface of a respective one of said plurality of second gate members being hingedly coupled to an outwardly facing surface of a respective one of said plurality of first gate members, said safety gate including a gate mount, said gate mount comprising: a gate member having a first sidelong side being hingedly coupled to a sidelong surface of a respective one of said plurality of first gate members; a primary bracket having an upper panel extending between a rearmost panel and a frontmost panel, said rearmost panel being coupled to and extending laterally away from a second sidelong side of said gate member such that said upper panel lies on a horizontal plane, said upper panel resting on a respective one of a horizontal member of said end framework to which said lift boom is attached such that said respective horizontal member is positioned between said rearmost panel and said frontmost panel; a second pin extending through said frontmost panel, said second pin being positioned beneath said respective horizontal member thereby inhibiting said primary bracket from being lifted upwardly from said respective horizontal member; a secondary bracket having a back panel extending between and being perpendicularly oriented with a pair of sidelong panels, a sidelong surface of a respective one of said pair of sidelong panels of said secondary bracket being attached said second sidelong side of said gate member at a point being spaced downwardly from said primary bracket, said innermost member of said of said end framework to which said lift boom is attached extending between said pair of sidelong panels; a third pin being extendable through each of said pair of sidelong panels of said secondary bracket thereby inhibiting said innermost member of said end framework on which said secondary bracket is disposed from escaping said secondary bracket; and a stop being coupled to and extending laterally away from a respective one of said plurality of second gate members such that said stop abuts said innermost member of an opposing one of said pair of end frameworks with respect to said end framework on which said safety gate is disposed when said first gate and said second gate are biased into said closed position thereby retaining said first gate and said second gate in said closed position; wherein each of said first gate and said second gate is urgeable into an open position having said first gate and said second gate resting against each other such that said first gate and said second gate extends rearwardly from said respective end framework on which said safety gate is disposed wherein each of said first gate and said second gate are configured to facilitate the user to pass between said pair of end frameworks; and a side gate being removably attachable to said scaffolding, said side gate being slidable into a closed position having said side gate extending between each of said pair of end sections of said scaffolding wherein said side gate is configured to inhibit the user from passing between said pair of end sections and inadvertently falling from said scaffolding, said side gate being slidable into an open position having said side gate being displaced from a respective one of said pair of end sections wherein said side gate is configured to facilitate the user to pass between said pair of end sections, said side gate including a gate framework which includes a lower member and a central member and an upper member, said upper member having a first end and a second end which are each attachable to a respective one of said pair of end sections of said scaffolding, said lower member having a first end and a second end which are each attachable to a respective one of said pair of end sections of said scaffolding, said gate framework having a vertical member which extends between said upper member and said lower member, said vertical member being centrally located along each of said upper member and said lower member, said central member terminating at said vertical member, said side gate having a first track being disposed on said lower member and the first track extends along a substantial length of said lower member, said side gate having a second track being disposed on said central member and the second track extends along a full length of said central member, said side gate having a topmost member which slidably engages said second track, said side gate having a bottommost member which slidably engages said first track, said side gate being aligned with said first end of said upper member and said first end of said lower member when said side gate is in said closed position, said side gate being positioned between said second end of said upper member and said second end of said lower member and said vertical member when said side gate is in said open position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of a scaffolding lift assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lift boom and a winch of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a right side view of a lift boom of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a left side view of a lift boom of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view of a lift boom of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a back view of a lift boom of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of load support of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a front view of safety gate of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a back view of a safety gate of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a top view of a safety gate of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a front view of a side gate of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a top view of a side gate of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 13 is a front view of a side gate of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a side gate in a closed position.

[0025] FIG. 14 is a front view of a side gate of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a side gate in an open position.

[0026] FIG. 15 is a right side view of a side gate of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 15 thereof, a new scaffolding assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0028] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 15, the scaffolding lift assembly 10 generally comprises a scaffolding 12 that has a pair of end sections 14 each comprising a central framework 16 extending between and being perpendicular to a pair of end frameworks 18 such that the each of the pair of end sections 14 defines a U-shape. Each of the pair of end frameworks 18 includes an innermost member 20 and the central framework 16 has a lowermost member 22. The scaffolding 12 may comprise scaffolding of any conventional design that is commonly employed at construction site, for example. A lift boom 24 is provided and the lift boom 24 is removably attachable to a respective one of the pair of end frameworks 18 of the scaffolding 12. The lift boom 24 is pivotable in a deployed position having the lift boom 24 extending laterally away from the respective end framework 18. Conversely, the lift boom 24 is positionable in a home position having the lift boom 24 being aligned with the respective end framework 18.

[0029] The lift boom 24 comprises a first member 26 that is perpendicular to a second member 28 and the second member 28 is spaced downwardly from an upper end 29 of the first member 26. The lift boom 24 includes an angled member 30 that is coupled to and extends between the first member 26 and the second member 28 such that the angled member 30 retains the first member 26 at the perpendicular orientation with the second member 28. The lift boom 24 includes a primary panel 32 that is pivotally attached to the upper end 29 of the first member 26 such that the first member 26 extends through a top surface 33 and a bottom surface 34 of the primary panel 32. Continuing, the lift boom 24 includes a bottom bracket 36 that has a first panel 37 which is perpendicular to a second panel 38. A lower end 39 of the first member 26 is pivotally attached to the first panel 37 having the first member 26 extending through an upper surface 40 and a lower surface 41 of the first panel 37 such that the second panel 38 extends downwardly from the first member 26.

[0030] The lift boom 24 includes a pivot mount 42 which is pivotally attached to the primary panel 32 and the second panel 38 such that the first member 26 is pivotable on the pivot mount 42. The pivot mount 42 includes a top bracket 43 which has a central panel 44 extending between each of a rear panel 45 and a forward panel 46 and the rear panel 45 is perpendicular to the central panel 44. The forward panel 46 angles away from the rear panel 45 and a rear surface 47 of the rear panel 45 is attached to a front edge 48 of the primary panel 32 such that the rear panel 45 extends upwardly from the primary panel 32. The top bracket 43 has a notch 49 extending through the forward panel 46 and the central panel 44 and the notch 49 is centrally located along the forward panel 46 and the central panel 44. Additionally, the top bracket 43 rests upon the lowermost member 22 of the central framework 16 of the respective end section 14 having the innermost member 20 of a respective one of the pair of end frameworks 18 extending through the notch 49 thereby securing the pivot mount 42 to the respective end framework 18.

[0031] The lift boom 24 includes pivot member 50 which has a lateral side 51 that is attached to an outwardly facing surface 52 of the bottom bracket 36 at a point located adjacent to a lower end 53 of the pivot member 50. The pivot member 50 extends through the top surface 33 and the bottom surface 34 of the primary panel 32 and a front side 54 of the pivot member 50 is attached to the rear surface 47 of the rear panel 45 of the top bracket 43 at a point that is aligned with the notch 49 in the top bracket 43. The lift boom 24 includes a bottom bracket 55 that has a middle panel 56 extending between and being perpendicular to a pair of outward panels 57. A back surface 58 of the middle panel 56 is attached to the front side 54 of the pivot member 50 at a point located adjacent to the lower end 53 of the pivot member 50. Additionally, the innermost member 20 of the respective end framework 18 is positioned between the pair of outward panels 57.

[0032] The lift boom 24 includes a pair of first screws 60 which each extends through the forward panel 46 of the top bracket 43. Each of the first screws 60 abuts the lowermost member 22 of the central framework 16 when the first screws 60 are tightened for securing the top bracket 43 to the lowermost member 22. The lift boom 24 includes a second screw 61 which extends through a respective one of the pair of outward panels 57 of the bottom bracket 36. The second screw 61 abuts the innermost member 20 of the respective end framework 18 when the second screw 61 is tightened for securing the bottom bracket 36 to the innermost member 20. Continuing, the lift boom 24 includes a first pin 62 that is extendable through each of the pair of outward panels 57 of the bottom bracket 36 when the innermost member 20 of the respective end framework 18 is positioned in the bottom bracket 36. In this way the first pin 62 inhibits the innermost member 20 of the respective end framework 18 from escaping the bottom bracket 36.

[0033] A winch 63 is attached to the lift boom 24 and the winch 63 can be secured to a load of building materials 64 when the lift boom 24 is in the deployed position. The winch 63 is actuatable into a lifting condition to lift the load of building materials 64 onto the scaffolding 12. In this way the load of building materials 64 does not have to be manually lifted onto the scaffolding 12. Thus, a construction company does not have to hire laborers whose sole purpose is to transport building materials onto the scaffolding 12 for craftsmen to employ during a construction project. In this way the lift boom 24 and the winch 63 facilitate the construction company to reduce the labor costs associated with a construction project while increasing the speed and efficiency with which the craftsmen can complete the construction project.

[0034] The winch 63 includes a pair of receivers 65 and the second member 28 of the lift boom 24 extends through each of the pair of receivers 65 for mounting the winch 63 to the first member 26. The winch 63 includes a cable 66 which extends downwardly from the winch 63; the cable 66 is lowered from the winch 63 when the winch 63 is actuated into a lowering condition and the cable 66 is wound into the winch 63 when the winch 63 is actuated into the lifting condition. Additionally, the winch 63 is positioned adjacent to a distal end 67 of the second member 28 with respect to the first member 26. The winch 63 may comprise an electric winch that has a load capacity of at least 1800.0 kg and the cable 66 may comprise a steel cable that has a tensile strength which exceeds the load capacity of the winch 63.

[0035] A hook 68 is coupled to a distal end 69 of the cable 66 with respect to the winch 63. A control 70 is provided which includes a conductor 71 that is electrically coupled to the winch 63 having the conductor 71 extending downwardly from the winch 63. The control 70 is disposed on a lower end 72 of the conductor 71 such that the control 70 is accessible to a user 35 thereby facilitating the user 35 to actuate the winch 63 in the lowering condition or the lifting condition. Furthermore, the control 70 may include an up button 73 which actuates the winch 63 into the lifting condition and a down button 74 which actuates the winch 63 into the lowering condition.

[0036] A load support 75 is provided and the load support 75 is removably attachable to the hook 68 on the cable 66 of the winch 63. The load support 75 has a plurality of attachment elements 76 which can each be attached to a respective load of building materials 64 thereby facilitating the winch 63 to lift the load of building materials 64. In this way a plurality of buckets of mortar, for example, can be attached to the load support 75. Furthermore, the plurality of attachment elements 76 facilitates a large load, such as a pallet of bricks, for example, to be supported on the load support 75 in a manner that inhibits the large load from tipping while the large load is being lifted with the winch 63.

[0037] The load support 75 comprises a plurality of arms 77 each radiating outwardly from a central point 78 of the load support 75. The load support 75 includes a hoop 79 which is coupled to and extends upwardly from the central point 78 of the load support 75. The hook 68 on the distal end 69 of the cable 66 of the winch 63 is attachable to the hoop 79 for securing the load support 75 to the cable 66. Additionally, the load support 75 includes a plurality of hooks 80 that is each attached to and extends downwardly from a respective one of the plurality of arms 77 at a point located adjacent to an end 81 of the respective arm 77. Furthermore, each of the plurality of hooks 80 on the load support 75 defines a respective one of the plurality of attachment elements 76.

[0038] A safety gate 82 is removably attachable to the respective end framework 18 to which the lift boom 24 is attached and the safety gate 82 includes a first gate 83 and a second gate 84 which is hingedly coupled to the first gate 83. Each of the first gate 83 and the second gate 84 is biased into a closed position such that the safety gate 82 extends between the pair of end frameworks 18 of the scaffolding 12. In this way the safety gate 82 inhibits the user 35 from inadvertently passing between the pair of end frameworks 18 and falling from the scaffolding 12. Conversely, each of the first gate 83 and the second gate 84 is urgeable into an open position to define an opening 85 between the pair of end frameworks 18. In this way the safety gate 82 facilitates the user 35 to pass between the pair of end frameworks 18.

[0039] The first gate 83 comprises a plurality of first gate members 86 each perpendicularly oriented with each other such that the first gate 83 has a rectangular shape. Additionally, the second gate 84 comprises a plurality of second gate members 87 each perpendicularly oriented with each other such that the second gate 84 has a rectangular shape. An outwardly facing surface 88 of a respective one of the plurality of second gate members 87 is hingedly coupled to an outwardly facing surface 89 of a respective one of the plurality of first gate members 86. The safety gate 82 includes a gate mount 90 and the gate mount 90 comprises a gate member 91 which has a first sidelong side 92 that is hingedly coupled to a sidelong surface 93 of a respective one of the plurality of first gate members 86.

[0040] The gate mount 90 includes a primary bracket 94 which has an upper panel 95 extending between a rearmost panel 96 and a frontmost panel 97. The rearmost panel 96 is coupled to and extends laterally away from a second sidelong side 98 of the gate member 91 such that the upper panel 95 lies on a horizontal plane. Furthermore, the upper panel 95 rests on a respective one of a plurality of horizontal members 100 of the end framework 18 to which the lift boom 24 is attached such that the respective horizontal member 100 is positioned between the rearmost panel 96 and the frontmost panel 97.

[0041] The gate mount 90 includes a second pin 101 which extends through the frontmost panel 97. The second pin 101 is positioned beneath the respective horizontal member 100 thereby inhibiting the primary bracket 94 from being lifted upwardly from the respective horizontal member 100. Additionally, the second pin 101 is removable from the frontmost panel 97 to facilitate the primary bracket 94 to be lifted from and subsequently removed from the respective horizontal member 100. The gate mount 90 includes a secondary bracket 102 which has a back panel 103 extending between and being perpendicularly oriented with a pair of sidelong panels 104. Furthermore, a sidelong surface 105 of a respective one of the pair of sidelong panels 104 of the secondary bracket 102 is attached the second sidelong side 98 of the gate member 91 at a point that is spaced downwardly from the primary bracket 94. The innermost member 20 of the of the end framework 18 to which the lift boom 24 is attached extends between the pair of sidelong panels 104.

[0042] The gate mount 90 includes a third pin 106 that is extendable through each of the pair of sidelong panels 104 of the secondary bracket 102 thereby inhibiting the innermost member 20 of the end framework 18 on which the secondary bracket 102 is disposed from escaping the secondary bracket 102. The gate mount 90 includes a stop 107 which is coupled to and extends laterally away from a respective one of the plurality of second gate members 87. The stop 107 abuts the innermost member 20 of an opposing one of the pair of end frameworks 18 with respect to the end framework 18 on which the safety gate 82 is disposed when the first gate 83 and the second gate 84 are biased into the closed position. In this way the first gate 83 and the second gate 84 are retained in the closed position. Conversely, each of the first gate 83 and the second gate 84 is urgeable into an open position having the first gate 83 and the second gate 84 resting against each other such that the first gate 83 and the second gate 84 extends rearwardly from the respective end framework 18 on which the safety gate 82 is disposed. In this way each of the first gate 83 and the second gate 84 facilitate the user 35 to pass between the pair of end frameworks 18.

[0043] A side gate 108 is provided and the side gate 108 is removably attachable to the scaffolding 12. The side gate 108 is slidable into a closed position having the side gate 108 extending between each of the pair of end sections 14 of the scaffolding 12. In this way the side gate 108 inhibits the user 35 from passing between the pair of end sections 14 and inadvertently falling from the scaffolding 12. Conversely, the side gate 108 is slidable into an open position having the side gate 108 being displaced from a respective one of the pair of end sections 14. In this way the side gate 108 facilitates the user 35 to pass between the pair of end sections 14. The side gate 108 includes a gate framework 109 that includes a lower member 110 and a central member 111 and an upper member 112.

[0044] The upper member 112 has a first end 113 and a second end 114 which are each attachable to a respective one of the pair of end sections 14 of the scaffolding 12. The lower member 110 has a first end 115 and a second end 116 which are each attachable to a respective one of the pair of end sections 14 of the scaffolding 12. Additionally, the gate framework 109 has a vertical member 117 which extends between the upper member 112 and the lower member 110. The vertical member 117 is centrally located along each of the upper member 112 and the lower member 110; the central member 111 terminates at the vertical member 117.

[0045] The side gate 108 has a first track 118 that is disposed on the lower member 110 and the first track 118 extends along a substantial length of the lower member 110. The side gate 108 has a second track 119 that is disposed on the central member 111 and the second track 119 extends along a full length of the central member 111. The side gate 108 has a topmost member 120 which slidably engages the second track 119 and the side gate 108 has a bottommost member 121 which slidably engages the first track 118. The side gate 108 is aligned with the first end 113 of the upper member 112 and the first end 115 of the lower member 110 when the side gate 108 is in the closed position. Conversely, the side gate 108 is positioned between the second end 114 of the upper member 112 and the second end 116 of the lower member 110 and the vertical member 117 when the side gate 108 is in the open position.

[0046] In use, the lift boom 24 is mounted to the scaffolding 12 at a desired location when the scaffolding 12 has been erected. In this way the winch 63 can be employed for lifting building material, for example, onto the scaffolding 12 without requiring laborers to manually transport the building materials onto the scaffolding 12. Thus, the labor costs for a construction project can be reduced and the speed and efficiency with which the building materials are loaded onto the scaffolding 12 can be increased. Each of the safety gate 82 and the side gate 108 can be mounted to the scaffolding 12 at a desired location when the scaffolding 12 has been erected. In this way each of the safety gate 82 and the side gate 108 enhances the safety of workers that are working on the scaffolding 12 by inhibiting the workers from inadvertently falling from the scaffolding 12. Thus, the labor costs for the construction project are reduced and the efficiency of the construction project is increased and the potential for injuries is reduced.

[0047] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0048] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.