U.S. patent application number 11/183543 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-26 for temporary scaffolding system.
Invention is credited to John Gluchowski.
Application Number | 20060016638 11/183543 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35655941 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060016638 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gluchowski; John |
January 26, 2006 |
Temporary scaffolding system
Abstract
A scaffolding system in which a platform or wall may be secured
to a crosspiece supported by cables near an angled structure or in
another difficult location. A platform is secured to the crosspiece
horizontally, while a wall is secured vertically. The crosspiece
may be an angle iron or pipe, for example. Also disclosed are
clamps and clamping arrangements for securing the platform or wall
to the crosspiece.
Inventors: |
Gluchowski; John; (Bayport,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
US
|
Family ID: |
35655941 |
Appl. No.: |
11/183543 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60588510 |
Jul 15, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
182/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 5/10 20130101; Y10T
403/7105 20150115; E04G 3/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/150 |
International
Class: |
E04G 3/30 20060101
E04G003/30 |
Claims
1. A method of providing a temporary platform near a structure,
comprising the steps of: securing at least one cable near said
structure; securing a crosspiece to said cable; and securing said
platform to said crosspiece.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said structure has angled
portions; and further comprising the step of arranging said cable,
crosspiece and platform without weight-bearing contact with said
angled portions.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said crosspiece is secured
directly to said cable.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said crosspiece is secured to
said cable by a clamp having a first portion secured to said cable
and a second portion secured to said crosspiece.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said platform is comprised in a
stairway.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said platform is provided by a
plank.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one cable comprises
a plurality of cables, and said crosspiece is secured to at least
two of said cables.
8. A temporary platform provided near a structure, comprising in
combination: at least one cable secured near said structure; a
crosspiece secured to said cable; and said platform being secured
to said crosspiece.
9. The platform of claim 8, wherein said structure has angled
portions; and wherein said cable, crosspiece and platform are
arranged out of weight-bearing contact with said angled
portions.
10. The platform of claim 8, wherein said crosspiece is secured
directly to said cable.
11. The platform of claim 8, wherein said crosspiece is secured to
said cable by a clamp having a first portion secured to said cable
and a second portion secured to said crosspiece.
12. The platform of claim 8, wherein said platform is comprised in
a stairway.
13. The platform of claim 8, wherein said platform is provided by a
plank.
14. The platform of claim 8, wherein said at least one cable
comprises a plurality of cables, and said crosspiece is secured to
at least two of said cables.
15. An arrangement for securing a platform to a cable comprising: a
crosspiece for supporting the platform; a first fastener for
securing the crosspiece to the cable; a second fastener for
securing the platform to the crosspiece.
16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said crosspiece is an
angle iron having two arms with an angle therebetween, one arm
being disposed for supporting said platform, the other arm having
said first fastener for securing the angle iron to the cable; and
wherein said second fastener secures said platform to said angle
iron.
17. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said second fastener has a
hook portion engaging said crosspiece, and a securing portion
engaging said plank.
18. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said first fastener
comprises a plate, a cable clamp mounted on one side of the plate,
and a crosspiece clamp mounted on the other side of the plate.
19. The arrangement of claim 18, wherein said crosspiece is a pipe
and said crosspiece clamp is a pipe clamp.
20. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said crosspiece is a pipe,
said first fastener being mounted directly to said pipe.
21. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said first fastener is
mounted to a flattened portion of said pipe.
22. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein said platform has a track
formed therein, said second fastener having a portion for engaging
said track for holding said platform to said crosspiece.
23. The arrangement of claim 22, wherein said second fastener
further has a hook portion for engaging said crosspiece.
24. The platform of claim 8, wherein said cable extends vertically
and said crosspiece extends horizontally.
25. The platform of claim 24, wherein said platform extends
horizontally.
26. The platform of claim 24, wherein said platform extends
vertically.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is based upon and claims priority of
U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/588,510 filed Jul. 15,
2004, incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a temporary scaffolding system, and
more particularly to a clamping system for use with the scaffolding
system.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] It is difficult to mount conventional temporary scaffolding
securely to an angled structure such as an angled or tapered tower
or other structural member. Either the scaffolding system cannot
clamp to an angled structure, or the angled structure may have
braces that obstruct the clamping. A structure such as a tower also
lacks horizontal surfaces for providing support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention avoids these problems by utilizing cables that
can be hung either surrounding or adjacent to an angled structure,
thereby permitting a support for a temporary platform to be clamped
to the cables.
[0007] Another aspect of the invention is a clamp that can be
fastened securely to a cable at a range of angles, providing
additional flexibility to the scaffolding system.
[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of the invention
which refers to the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, vertical cables 10 are secured,
for example by conventional loops 12 and/or shackles 14, to
existing horizontal members of a structure such as beam 18. The
cables 10 are tensioned with turnbuckles 16 or by any other
suitable means, to increase the rigidity of the scaffolding
system.
[0010] The beam 18 is of course capable of supporting a load, but
is not in the location where a temporary platform is needed.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to support a temporary
platform where it is needed, an angle iron 20 is secured to a cable
10. Preferably the angle iron 20 is secured to the cable 10 at at
least two points on the angle iron 20 as shown. In this example, a
pair of conventional Crosby clamps 25 or any other suitable devices
are used to secure the angle iron 20 to the cable 10.
[0011] Another portion of the angle iron 20, such as an opposite
end, is secured to another cable (not shown) so that the angle iron
20 is thereby secured in a horizontal position.
[0012] The angle iron 20 supports a temporary work platform 30 such
as a plank, extending transversely to the angle iron 20.
[0013] A J-bolt 35 extends downward through a hole 32 in the
platform 30 to clamp the platform 30 onto the angle-iron 20. The
"J" of the J-bolt 35 hooks around the angle iron. At the other end
of the J-bolt 35, on the top side of the platform 30, a wing nut 37
along with a washer 38 and a Teflon stop nut 39 complete the
clamping arrangement.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of four
cables 10, two horizontal structural members 40, two angle irons
20, and two planks 30 secured to the angle irons to form a
temporary work platform.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of how the
arrangement of FIGS. 1-4 can effectively provide temporary work
platforms around and among the tapered vertical towers as well as
other angled and horizontal members of a bridge.
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a second aspect of the invention, namely a
clamp 60 for use in the scaffolding arrangement. The cable 10 is
secured by a pair of Crosby clamps 25A and 25B to a plate 50. The
Crosby clamps are secured to the plate by U-bolts 52A and 52B. A
pipe clamp 54 is bolted to the other side of the plate. The Crosby
clamps permit the clamp 60 to rotate to any position about the
cable, giving the clamp increased flexibility of use.
[0017] The pipe clamp 54 is used to hold a pipe or other member
(not shown) which serves the same function as the angle iron in the
first embodiment of the invention, for supporting a temporary work
platform via J-bolts or any other suitable device.
[0018] FIGS. 7-10 show a scaffolding arrangement according to
another embodiment of the invention, in which a supporting pipe may
be mounted directly to a cable. Four cables 10 are shown. Two pipes
70 are each secured to a respective pair of the cables 10 by
fasteners such as U-bolts or Crosby clamps 72 and matching nuts 74.
The clamps 60 shown in FIG. 6 could optionally be used to secure
the pipes to the cables.
[0019] The pipes 70 are preferably flattened or crimped as shown at
76, both to facilitate forming the holes for the fasteners 72 and
to improve the grip between the pipe and the cable 10.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a detail view taken in direction "8" in FIG.
7.
[0021] A pair of scaffold planks 80 form a temporary work platform.
Each plank has a track 82. The track is better seen in FIG. 9,
which is a sectional view taken in direction "9" in FIG. 7, and
FIG. 10, which is a sectional view taken in direction "10" in FIG.
9. A bolt 84 has a bolt head 86 inserted in the track 82. The bolt
is secured to the pipe 70 by a J-hook 85 which is secured by a
wing-out 87 to clamp the pipe 70 against the plank 80.
[0022] FIGS. 11-12 show a further aspect of the invention, in which
a scaffold stairway may be mounted to cables. Cables 10 (only two
being shown in FIG. 11) have pipes 70 mounted on the cables as
shown in FIG. 7. Two scaffold stairways 90 are supported on the
cables 10 by a clamping arrangement shown in detail in FIG. 12.
[0023] Specifically, a pipe clamp 92 is attached to the stairway 90
by a method such as welding, or may be integrally formed with the
stairway 90. A top clamp half 92A and a bottom clamp half 92B are
secured together by bolts 94A, 94B to clamp the stairway 90 to the
pipe 70.
[0024] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 13. The
cables 10, turnbuckles 16, angle irons 20 and beam 40 are arranged
as in FIG. 4 and the other figures. The angle irons may be attached
to the cable with Crosby clamps, for example. However, in this
case, metal siding or decking or another generally flat-shaped
material is mounted vertically to the vertical arms of the angle
irons to form a wall. As in the preceding embodiments, the wall
sections may be attached to the angle irons with screws, bolts,
j-hooks, etc.
[0025] The use in this description of such terms as "pipe,"
"clamp," "plank" and the like is not to be taken as limiting the
invention, but rather such terms are to be construed to include all
modifications, variations, substitutes and equivalents that would
be known to those having the ordinary level of skill in the
art.
[0026] Although the present invention has been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those
skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited
by the specific disclosure herein.
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