Abstract
A Z-shaped anchoring apparatus for suspended scaffolding, the apparatus comprising: a Z-shaped anchoring plate comprising a first horizontally protruding element, a second opposable protruding element, and a vertical middle element continuously coupling the first and second elements; at least one aperture traversing the first element and configured to slidably receive a cable to serve as a tie-back distally situated from a suspended scaffold hanging from a proximal end; and a counterweight disposed on a top surface of the second element to counterbalance the weight of the suspended scaffold.
Claims
1. A Z-shaped anchoring apparatus for suspended scaffolding, the apparatus comprising: a Z-shaped anchoring plate comprising a first horizontally protruding element, a second opposable protruding element, and a vertical middle element continuously coupling the first and second elements; at least one aperture traversing the first element and configured to slidably receive a cable to serve as a tie-back distally situated from a suspended scaffold hanging from a proximal end; and a counterweight disposed on a top surface of the second element to counterbalance the weight of the suspended scaffold.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an L-shaped receiver plate secured to the vertical middle element by at least one rod and nut assembly, the receiver plate providing a horizontal surface for an opposable counterweight.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the receiver plate includes a vertical rod configured to receive and secure the opposable counterweight.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture is sized to accommodate multiple tie-back cables.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tie-back cable includes a tension adjusting element to vary anchoring force.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Z-shaped anchoring plate is fabricated as a unitary metallic structure.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchoring plate is modular and comprises interlocking segments.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the counterweight comprises modular stackable blocks.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchoring plate is coated with a corrosion-resistant finish.
10. A method of tie-back anchoring for suspended scaffolding, the method comprising: fabricating a Z-shaped anchoring plate with a first protruding element, a second protruding element, and a vertical middle element; forming at least one aperture through the first element; positioning the plate such that the aperture receives a tie-back cable distally situated from a suspended scaffold hanging from a proximal end; and resting a counterweight on the second protruding element to stabilize the scaffold.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising securing an L-shaped receiver plate to the vertical middle element with a rod-and-nut assembly.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising positioning an opposable counterweight on the receiver plate.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising engaging a vertical rod of the receiver plate to retain the opposable counterweight.
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising threading multiple tie-back cables through the aperture.
15. The method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting tension on the tie-back cable using a mechanical tensioner.
16. The method of claim 10, further comprising fabricating the anchoring plate as a unitary metallic body.
17. The method of claim 10, further comprising interlocking multiple segments of the anchoring plate.
18. The method of claim 10, further comprising stacking modular counterweight blocks on the second element.
19. The method of claim 10, further comprising coating the anchoring plate with a corrosion-resistant layer.
20. A method of anchoring a suspended scaffold by tie-back, comprising providing a Z-shaped anchoring plate with a hole for receiving a tie-back cable, securing the tie-back cable through the plate, and applying a counterweight to the plate to counterbalance the suspended scaffold.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description concerning the drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1A exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspects of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 1B exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspects of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 1C exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspects of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 2A exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspect of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2B exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspects of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 2C exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspects of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspects of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 4A exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspect of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4B exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspects of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 5A exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspects of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 5B exemplarily illustrates an anchoring apparatus according to one or more aspects of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 exemplarily illustrates a method according to one or more aspect of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 7 exemplarily illustrates a method according to one or more aspect of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary method flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0030] A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
[0031] The present invention discloses an apparatus for quick-deploy scaffolding. The apparatus is further configured to enable a contractor/rigger to quickly assemble/disassemble a standardized anchor for scaffolding/tie-backeven under sub-optimal roof/parapet structural conditions. The appended figures (FIGS. 1a-7) exemplarily illustrate various embodiments of the anchoring apparatus or parapet reinforcement apparatus in accordance with aspects of the invention, including for: a through-parapet; a parapet-supported; an arm-supported; and tie-back versions. Referring to FIG. 1A-1C and 2A-2C, both of which exemplarily illustrate a Z-shaped anchoring apparatus, including for a counterweight opposably disposed from a receiver plate configured to engage a suspended scaffold parallel with an elevation of a building under faade repair. FIG. 1A-1C exemplarily illustrates a through-parapet Z-shaped anchoring apparatus, while FIG. 2A-2C exemplarily illustrates a parapet-supported Z-shaped anchoring apparatus. In instances of sub-optimal parapet conditions (deteriorating coping stone/cap, clad, wall, etc.), the parapet-supported anchoring apparatus may be preferred due its minimal invasiveness.
[0032] Now in particular reference to FIG. 1A, illustrating a through-parapet Z-shaped apparatus for suspended scaffolding comprising: a Z-shaped anchoring plate 110 comprised of a first horizontally protruding element 110a, a second opposable protruding element 110c, and said elements continuously coupled to each other via a vertical middle element 110b, wherein the Z-shaped plate 110 is configured to securely cover at least portions of a top wall 180a, inner wall of a parapet 180b, and a roof 190; at least one threaded rod with torqued nut 120 anchored through at least one of the vertical element 110b and/or the first element 110a of the anchoring plate 110 and through at least one of the top wall, inner wall, and/or outer wall of the parapet 180; an L-shaped receiver plate 130 secured over at least a portion of the top wall 180a and outer wall of the parapet 180b and rod-nut anchored 120 to the anchoring plate 110, wherein the receiver plate 130 is configured to secure a suspended scaffold for a user to engage a faade of a structure in any direction; and a counterweight 140 securely rested on a top surface of the second element 110c in order to counter the weight of the suspended scaffold.
[0033] FIG. 1B illustrates a plan view of the receiver plate 130, clearly depicting four threaded rods 120 that are nut-torqued through each plate 130 and a top and/or inner/outer wall of the parapet 180. FIG. 1C illustrates a section view of the receiver plate 130, revealing two of the four nut-torqued rods 120 (22) traversing a top portion of the receiver plate 130 and a top wall of the parapet (not shown).
[0034] Now in particular reference to FIG. 2A, which illustrates a parapet-supported apparatus for suspended scaffolding comprising: a Z-shaped anchoring plate 210 comprised of a first horizontally protruding element 210a, a second opposable protruding element 210c, and said elements continuously coupled to each other via a vertical middle element 210b, wherein the Z-shaped plate 210 is configured to securely cover at least portions of a top wall 280a, inner wall of a parapet 280b, and a roof 290; at least one threaded rod with torqued nut 220 anchored through at least one of the vertical element 210b and/or the first element 210a of the anchoring plate 210 and through at least one of the top wall, inner wall, and/or outer wall of the parapet 280; an L-shaped receiver plate 230 secured over at least a portion of the top wall 280a and outer wall of the parapet 280b and rod-nut anchored 220 to the anchoring plate 210, wherein the receiver plate 230 is configured to secure a suspended scaffold for a user to engage a faade of a structure in any direction; and a counterweight 240 securely rested on a top surface of the second element 210c in order to counter the weight of the suspended scaffold.
[0035] This parapet-supported anchoring apparatus may prove efficient in scenarios of low through-wall tolerance due to its non-invasive anchoring. In certain embodiments, the rod-nut anchoring may traverse the top wall of the Z-shaped apparatus and L-shaped receiver plate, while not traversing the top wall or vertical wall (outer/inner) of the parapetavoiding any additional compromise of a structurally unsound parapet wall and avoiding any parapet reinforcement strategies. A certain degree of structural soundness is required to tolerate the anchoring of the nut-torqued rodeither through the vertical wall and/or top wall of the parapet. FIG. 2B illustrates a plan view of the receiver plate 230, clearly depicting four threaded rods 120 (22) that are nut-torqued through each plate 230 and a top and/or inner/outer wall of the parapet 180. FIG. 2C illustrates a section view of the receiver plate 230, revealing two of the four nut-torqued rods 220 traversing a top portion of the receiver plate 230 and a top wall of the parapet (not shown).
[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, which illustrates an isometric view of the Z-shaped apparatus 310, along with the L-shaped receiver plate 330unanchored for a more detailed depiction of the four nut-torqued rods 320 traversing through each top wall of the receiver plate 330.
[0037] In continuing reference to FIGS. 1A, 2A, and 3, the preferred materials/fabrication techniques of the Z-shaped anchoring plate 110, 210, 310 calls for all steel to be schedule 36, wherein the first element 110a, 210a; second element 110c, 210c; and middle element 110b of the Z-plate 110, 210, 310 is continuously welded/bent. The second element 110c, 210c of the Z-plate 110, 210, 310 is further disposed with a continuously welded counter weight rod 140, 240, 340. The L-shaped receiver plate 130, 230, 330also continuously welded/bent schedule 36 steelis dimensioned and configured to accommodate the Z-shaped plate for securely anchor over/through the parapet. In some embodiments, the Z-shaped anchoring apparatus is minimally/not invasive and does not have any nut-torqued rods traversing through a parapetand instead, rests over a top wall of the (optionally, reinforced) parapet. In other embodiments, the Z-shaped anchoring apparatus does nut-torqued rod anchor through a top wall and/or vertical wall (outer/inner) of the parapetappropriate in instances of higher stress tolerance of the parapet. The dimensions of each element of a single Z-plate may be identical, or different depending on the use case of the apparatus (anchoring and/or tie-back). Preferably, the Z-plate element dimensions are 12 inch36 inch24 inch7/8.
[0038] Now in reference to FIGS. 4A and 5A, illustrating an arm-supported Z-shaped anchoring apparatus comprising: a Z-shaped anchoring plate 410, 510 comprised of a first horizontally protruding element 410a, 510a, a second opposable protruding element 410c, 510, and said elements continuously coupled to each other via a vertical middle element 410b, 510b; a vertical arm 470, 570 with a top surface and at least one vertical surface, wherein said arm 470, 570 positioned between the vertical middle element 410b, 510b and the first protruding element 410a, 510a of the Z-shaped plate 410, 510, wherein the Z plate 410, 510 is configured to securely cover at least portions of the top and vertical surfaces of the arm 470, 570 and a roof 490, 590; at least one rod-nut 420, 520 anchoring the top wall of the arm 470, 570 with the first element 410a, 510a of the anchoring plate and top wall of the parapet 480, in order to secure a suspended scaffold for vertical mobility for a user to engage a faade of a structure; and a counterweight 440, 540 securely rested on a top surface of the second element 410c, 510c in order to counter the weight of the suspended scaffold.
[0039] The second element 410c, 510c, optionally, rests on a wood 450, 550/foam support 460, 560 for further reinforcement of the roof 490, 590. As shown, the threaded rods 420, 520 pins with nuts torqued to within a range of 10 KIPS and preferably four rods 420, 520 per first element 410a, 510a of the Z-plate 410, 510. As shown in FIG. 4A, the support arm 470 and the top wall of the parapet 480 are positioned below the first element 410a of the Z-plate 410, providing additional load-bearing support, while FIG. 5A depicts an exemplary free-standing apparatus without the use of a parapetand just the support arm 570. The arm supported embodiment may not even contact the top wall of the parapet, as shown in FIG. 4A. The free-standing embodiment in FIG. 5A shows the use of an optional opposable counterweight resting on the wood 550 and foam 560 support. While not shown, the anchoring may be reinforced by having additional support arms between the Z-plate middle element and parapet. In yet other embodiments for super reinforcement, anchoring may occur on a top wall of the parapet, in addition to the single or multiple support arms. Further yet, anchoring may occur between the middle elements and first elements of the Z-plate engaged with distinct sites on the support arm. FIGS. 4B and 5B exemplarily illustrates a plan view of the support arm 470, 570, detailing the number and orientation of the nut-torqued rods 420, 520 traversing the top wall of the support arm 470, 570. As shown in the plan view of FIGS. 4B and 5B, there are three support arms 470, 570 vertically anchored under one of a Z-plate 410, 510 first element.
[0040] Moving onto FIGS. 6 and 7, both of which illustrate an exemplary tie-back accessory for suspension scaffolding in accordance with an aspect of the invention. The apparatus comprising: a Z-shaped anchoring plate 610, 710 comprised of a first horizontally protruding element 610a, 710a, a second opposable protruding element 610c, 710c, and said elements continuously coupled to each other via a vertical middle element 610b, 710b; at least a single hole traversing at least one of the first element 610a, 710a, middle element 610b, 710b, or L-shaped receiver plate 630, 730, and configured to slidably receive a cable to serve as a tie-back distally situated from a suspended scaffold hanging from a proximal end; and a counterweight 640, 740 securely rested on a top surface of the second element 610c, 710c in order to counter the weight of the suspended scaffold.
[0041] FIG. 7 further illustrates a tie-back circular receiver 770 for accommodating a steel cable or any cable traditionally used to support/tie-back the weight of a distal scaffold. While two receivers 770 are shown in this exemplary embodiment, any number of receivers, positioned anywhere on the Z-plate 710 and/or L-shaped receiver plate 730 may by possible. In one embodiment, approximately a 1,000 pounds of counterweight 740 is necessary per Z-plate 710. The counterweight 740 may be disposed on a rod continuous with the second element of the Z-plate 710 or simply resting on the surface of the second element of the Z-plate 710. For additional roofing support, the Z-plate 710 with counterweight 740 may rest on 210 wood planks 750, further supported on 100 PSI XPS foam insulation 760 as required to compensate for height differential of the parapet wall.
[0042] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method flow diagram, entailing the steps of: fabricating a Z-shaped anchoring plate as a single unitary piece, with a first protruding element continuous with a second opposable protruding element by a middle vertical element, wherein the plate is configured to securely cover at least portions of a top wall and/or inner wall of a parapet and a roof; anchoring at least one threaded rod with a torqued nut through at least one of the vertical element and/or the first element of the anchoring plate and through at least one of the top wall, inner wall, and/or outer wall of the parapet 810; securing an L-shaped receiver plate over at least a portion of the top wall and outer wall of the parapet and rod-nut anchoring said receiver plate to the anchoring plate, wherein the receiver plate is configured to secure a suspended scaffold for a user to engage a faade of a structure in any direction and resting a counterweight securely over a top surface of the second element in order to counter the weight of the suspended scaffold 820.
[0043] FIG. 9 also illustrates an exemplary method flow diagram, entailing the steps of: fabricating a Z-shaped anchoring plate with a first horizontally protruding element continuous with a vertical element and an opposable second horizontally protruding element 910; traversing the first element with at least a single hole configured to slidably receive a cable to serve as a tie-back distally situated from a suspended scaffold hanging from a proximal end; and resting a counterweight securely on a top surface of the second element in order to counter the weight of the suspended scaffold 920.
[0044] Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the above detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment developed herein, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0045] The foregoing description comprises illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used only in generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.
