U.S. patent application number 11/658657 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-29 for adjustable and transportable scaffolding.
Invention is credited to Richard Boucher, Daniel Grenon, Marco Robidoux.
Application Number | 20090026013 11/658657 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35696182 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090026013 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grenon; Daniel ; et
al. |
January 29, 2009 |
Adjustable and transportable scaffolding
Abstract
An adjustable and transportable scaffolding (10) is described.
It comprises an adjustable leg support mechanism (20) for a
scaffolding having vertical corner frame members (11) connected to
horizontal frame members (12) and cross-braces (13). The mechanism
(20) comprises an open-ended sleeve (21) adapted to receive a
support rod (22) therethrough and wherein the support rod has at
least a horizontal toothed edge section (23) adapted to secure to a
bottom support foot (24). A tooth engaging member (25) is pivotally
secured to the sleeve (21) and has a tooth engaging head (26)
biased against the toothed edge (23) inside the sleeve (21) for
supporting the sleeve about the support rod (22) while permitting
upward displacement of the sleeve about the rod. The tooth engaging
member (25) can be unbiased from the toothed edge (23) of the
support rod (22) to permit downward displacement of the sleeve (21)
about the rod (22). A locking member (40) is provided to lock the
tooth engaging member (25) in arresting position with the toothed
edge (23). The sleeve (21) is also provided with a connector (52)
for support engagement with one of the corner frame members (1) of
the scaffolding (10).
Inventors: |
Grenon; Daniel;
(Sorel-Tracy, CA) ; Robidoux; Marco; (Richelieu,
CA) ; Boucher; Richard; (Sorel-Tracy, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OGILVY RENAULT LLP
1981 MCGILL COLLEGE AVENUE, SUITE 1600
MONTREAL
QC
H3A2Y3
CA
|
Family ID: |
35696182 |
Appl. No.: |
11/658657 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
June 7, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CA2005/000892 |
371 Date: |
September 26, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/225 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 2001/242 20130101;
E04G 1/24 20130101; E04G 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/225 |
International
Class: |
E04G 1/18 20060101
E04G001/18; E04G 5/02 20060101 E04G005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 27, 2004 |
CA |
2475947 |
Apr 6, 2005 |
CA |
2504363 |
Claims
1. An adjustable leg support mechanism 20 for a scaffolding 10
having vertical corner frame members 11 connected to horizontal
frame members 12 and cross-braces 13, said mechanism being
characterized in that it comprises an open-ended sleeve 21 adapted
to receive a support rod 22 therethrough and wherein said support
rod has at least a longitudinal toothed edge section 23 and is
adapted to secure to a bottom support foot 24, a tooth engaging
member 25 pivotally secured to said sleeve 21 and having a tooth
engaging head 26 biased against said toothed edge 23 inside said
sleeve 21 for supporting said sleeve about said support rod 22
while permitting upward displacement of said sleeve about said rod,
means 27, 28 to unbias said tooth engaging head 26 from said
toothed edge to permit downward displacement of said sleeve about
said rod, arresting means 40 to lock said tooth engaging head 26 in
arresting position with said toothed edge 23 and attachment means
52 for securing said sleeve 21 for support engagement with one of
said vertical corner frame members 11 of a scaffolding.
2. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 1
characterized in that said means to unbias said tooth engaging head
is a lever arm 28 formed integral with said tooth engaging head 26,
said tooth engaging head 26 having an engaging projection 34
projecting through an aperture 30 inside said open-ended
sleeve.
3. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 2
characterized in that said sleeve 21 has a substantially
rectangular cross-section for receiving therethrough said support
rod 22 which is of substantially square cross-section, said toothed
edge section 23 being constituted by a plurality of saw tooth
formations 23' formed along a side wall of said support rod and
facing said aperture 30 of said sleeve 21.
4. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 3
characterized in that said saw tooth formations 23' each define a
horizontal support ledge 32 and an outwardly sloping wall section
33, said engaging projection 34 having a wedge shape formation 34'
defining a flat bottom wall 35 for seated engagement on said
support ledge 32 and a rearwardly sloping upper wall 36 for
frictional sliding engagement against said outwardly sloping wall
section 33 of said tooth.
5. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 4
characterized in that said tooth engaging head 26 is pivotally
connected by a pivot connection 27 between a pair of support
flanges 37 secured to said sleeve 21 on opposed sides of a side
wall 31 of said sleeve having said aperture 30, said wedge-shaped
formation 24' being biased against said saw tooth formation 23 by
the weight of said lever arm, said lever arm when displaced
upwardly about said pivot connection 27 causing said wedge shape
formation to retract through said aperture.
6. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 2
characterized in that said arresting means 40 is a locking lever
pivotally connected 41 to said sleeve 21 and having an arresting
formation 42 for removable engagement with said tooth engaging head
to prevent displacement of said lever arm 28 and disengagement of
said engaging projection with said toothed edge section 23 of said
support rod 22.
7. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 1
characterized in that said bottom support foot 24 is a slide plate
99 for sliding displacement on a ground support surface 14.
8. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 1
characterized in that there is further provided a rod connector 50
secured to said sleeve 21 for connection to a transverse tubular
rod 51 interconnecting two opposed leg support mechanisms 20
together.
9. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 1
characterized in that said attachment means 52 is a vertical
connecting post 52 for release engagement with a hollow tubular end
55 of said vertical corner frame member 11.
10. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 1
characterized in that there is further provided locking means 56 to
automatically lock said support rod 22 with said sleeve 21 at one
or more predetermined positions.
11. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 10
characterized in that said locking means is a spring-biased lock
pin 52 secured to said sleeve 21 and having a spring-biased rod 56
urged against a side wall 59 of said support rod 22 for engagement
in a hole 58 formed in said side wall 59 at said one or more
predetermined positions.
12. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 1
characterized in that there is further provided a support wheel 60
secured to wheel support means 61 secured to said sleeve 21, said
wheel 60 having its planar axis of rotation extending parallel to
said sleeve.
13. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 12
characterized in that said wheel 60 is removably secured to said
wheel support means 61 which is constituted by a wheel attachment
sleeve 61 secured to said sleeve 21.
14. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 12
characterized in that there is further provided a rod connector 50
secured to said sleeve 21 for connection to a transverse tubular
rod 51 for interconnecting two opposed leg support mechanisms 20
together in tandem arrangement, a carriage frame connector 86, 86'
secured to said wheel support means 61, 61', each of said two
opposed leg support mechanisms 20 adapted for interconnection with
carriage frame connecting rods 89, 89' to displace said tandem
arrangement on said support wheels 60.
15. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 14
characterized in that said rod connector 50 is pivotally secured to
said sleeve 21, and a vertical connecting post 52 secured to said
rod connector for release engagement with a hollow tubular end 55
of said vertical corner frame member 11, and lock means 76 for
arresting said wheel support means 61 at a desired angular portion
relative to said sleeves 21 of said tandem arrangement to displace
said tandem arrangement along a desired direction.
16. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 15
characterized in that said carriage frame connector is an elongated
flange 86, 86' having a slot 88 therein to receive a connecting pin
element 90 secured to a connecting end of said carriage connecting
rods 89, 89' to permit displacement of said connecting end along
said slot 88, said carriage connecting rods 89, 89' being pivotally
secured 93, 93' at a remote end to a handle 94 to effect said
displacement of said tandem arrangement.
17. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 15
characterized in that said lock means 76 comprises a horizontal
lock flange 70 secured to said sleeve 21 and having an arcuate
outer edge 71 provided with two or more locking cavities 72
disposed therealong, a pivot connecting flange 73 spaced above said
lock flange 70 and extending parallel thereto, said rod connector
50 being pivotally connected between said lock flange 70 and said
pivot connecting flange 73 by a pivot pin 74, and a position
arresting pin 76 spring-biased against a top peripheral edge of
said lock flange 70 and secured to said rod connector, said
position arresting pin 76 interconnecting said rod connector to
said lock flange when received in one of said locking cavities
72.
18. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 17
characterized in that said position arresting pin 76 is provided
with engaging means 77 to retract said arresting pin from one of
said locking cavities 72 for disengagement.
19. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 15
characterized in that said rod connector 50 is a connecting end of
said transverse tubular rod 51.
20. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 19
characterized in that said transverse tubular rod 51 is a
telescopic rod 80 having interconnection means 81.
21. An adjustable leg support mechanism as claimed in claim 19
characterized in that a leveling device 83 is secured to said
transverse tubular rod 51, 80 to assist in locking a scaffolding
tubular structure secured to said tandem arrangement.
22. A support foot 24 for a scaffolding having vertical corner
posts 11, said support foot 24 being characterized by a slide plate
99 having a bottom ground engaging face 100 and opposed upwardly
angled end flanges 101, and a vertical connector 103 disposed
substantially central on a top wall 104 of said slide plate 99 for
removable connection with a lower end section 55 of said corner
posts 11.
23. A support foot 24 as claimed in claim 22 characterized in that
said vertical connector is a vertical connecting post 103 for
release engagement within a hollow end 55 of said corner posts,
said corner posts 11 being hollow tubular posts having at least one
lock pin receiving hole 106 for receiving therein a spring-biased
lock pin 105 projecting from said vertical connecting post 103.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable and
transportable scaffolding and more particularly to an adjustable
leg support mechanism which provides ease of leveling and
transporting a scaffolding on an irregular ground support
surface.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Scaffolding devices comprising interconnectable tubular
frame members are well known in the art whereby to support people
and material in an elevated position whereby to facilitate working
on structures such as building structures or working adjacent or
under elevated ceilings. When working on scaffolding outdoors,
often the ground area adjacent the structure is irregular and it is
therefore necessary before climbing such scaffolding or erecting
such scaffolding that the ground be preferably level or else the
vertical corner posts of the scaffolding are shimmed by using all
sorts of material whereby the base of the scaffolding lies
substantially in a planar horizontal plane. A problem with such
shimming is that often it becomes disengaged and this can cause the
scaffolding to collapse resulting in injuries and sometimes death
to personnel working on such structures or in the vicinity of such
structure.
[0003] Another disadvantage of scaffolding is that once erected
they are difficult to transport to relocate at a different site
close by. Usually the entire scaffolding structure is disassembled
and re-assembled at the new site where again it may be required to
shim the corner vertical post to re-level the structure prior to
assembly thereof. This is a time consuming process.
[0004] Solutions have been proposed to remedy these problems and
reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,033 which proposes such a
solution. One solution is to mount the scaffolding on wheels which
may be retracted, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,967. In
order to maintain the working platform of the scaffolding
substantially horizontal at a desired position, telescopic legs
have also been proposed as described and shown in U.S. Pat. No.
4,171,033. However, such proposed solution is very time-consuming
and is permanently adapted to a specific scaffolding platform.
There is therefore a need to also provide a scaffolding which
incorporates features of adjustability and transportability and
which is easy to disassemble and assemble and which can be
transported by small transport vehicles such as a pick-up truck or
the like small vehicles. There is also a need to provide an
adjustable and transportable scaffolding which is safe to use and
which can be erected very quickly and easily displaceable without
disassembling the scaffolding.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore a feature of the present invention to
provide an adjustable and transportable scaffolding which
substantially overcomes the disadvantages of the above-mentioned
prior art and which provides for the required existing needs.
[0006] Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable leg support mechanism which is securable to vertical
corner posts of a scaffolding structure and which is easy to
connect thereto, and which is quick and easy to adjust by a single
person.
[0007] Another feature of the present invention is to provide an
adjustable leg support mechanism to which is connectable wheels
whereby to transport and displace an assembled scaffolding from
different locations.
[0008] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
scaffolding and wherein the wheels can be displaced and locked
about the scaffolding corner posts for ease of displacing the
scaffolding.
[0009] According to a still further feature of the present
invention there is provided a support foot for a scaffolding which
is slidingly displaced over a ground support surface even when
covered with snow.
[0010] According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the
present invention provides an adjustable leg support mechanism for
a scaffolding having vertical corner frame members connected to
horizontal frame members and cross-braces. The mechanism is
characterized in that it comprises an open-ended sleeve adapted to
receive a support rod therethrough and wherein the support rod has
at least a longitudinal toothed edge section and a bottom support
foot. A tooth engaging member is pivotally secured to the sleeve
and has a tooth engaging head biased against the toothed edge
inside the sleeve for supporting the sleeve about the support rod
while permitting upward displacement of the sleeve about the rod.
Means is provided to unbias the tooth engaging head from the
toothed edge to permit downward displacement of the sleeve about
the rod. Arresting means is provided to lock the tooth engaging
head in arresting position with the toothed edge. Attachment means
is provided for securing the sleeve for support engagement with one
of the vertical corner frame members of a scaffolding.
[0011] According to another broad aspect of the present invention
there is provided a support foot for a scaffolding having vertical
corner posts. The support foot is characterized by a slide plate
having a bottom ground engaging face and opposed upwardly angled
end flanges. A vertical connector is disposed substantially central
on a top wall of the slide plate for removable connection with a
lower end section of a vertical corner post of a scaffolding
structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a simplified side view, partly fragmented, showing
a section of a scaffolding and to which is secured an adjustable
leg support mechanism to each of two vertical corner posts of the
scaffolding for ease of level adjustment of the scaffolding on an
irregular ground surface;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view, partly sectioned, illustrating the
construction of the open-ended sleeve and some of its component
parts for displaceable connection about a support rod;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a top view of the open-ended sleeve substantially
as illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the support sleeve and
its rod connector and attachment means to secure to a vertical
connecting post of a scaffolding structure;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side section view similar to FIG. 2 but showing
the support rod having a serrated edge and extending through the
open-ended sleeve;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a side view, partly sectioned, of the sliding foot
plate and its vertical connector to secure to the bottom of a
hollow corner frame member of a scaffolding;
[0019] FIG. 7A is a side view showing the support rod secured to
the foot plate;
[0020] FIG. 7B is an end view of FIG. 7A;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a partly sectioned side view of the sleeve showing
a support wheel secured thereto as well as an adjustable rod
connector secured to the sleeve;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a top view illustrating the construction of the
arcuate horizontal lock flange;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG. 9 illustrating the
disposition of the lock flange relative to a pivot connecting
flange secured to the open-ended sleeve;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a top view showing an adjustable leg support
mechanism with the attachments as shown in FIG. 8 and secured to a
telescopic horizontal rod;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a side view showing the other side of a tandem
arrangement of two adjustable leg support mechanisms with wheels
secured together by the telescopic rod;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating the construction of a
carriage assembly secured to the adjustable leg support mechanism
of a tandem arrangement; and
[0027] FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but showing the wheels
interconnected to the adjustable leg support mechanism at different
angles with respect to the corner post of a scaffolding whereby to
displace the scaffolding sideways or at an angle.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG.
1, there is shown generally at 10, typical scaffolding structure
constructed of tubular frame members. Only a bottom end section of
a scaffolding structure 10 is illustrated and it comprises of
vertical corner frame members or posts (usually tubular rods) 11
and 11' connected to horizontal frame members 12 and to
cross-braces 13, as is well known in the art, whereby to construct
a stable and rigid scaffolding assembly. Usually the bottom section
of a scaffolding assembly is assembled on a ground surface 14 with
the vertical corner frame members shimmed to level the lower
section. After being leveled, further sections 15 are assembled on
top of the bottom section and planks are placed on top of the
horizontal frame members.
[0029] The present invention provides for an adjustable leg support
mechanism 20 which is connectable to one or more of the vertical
corner frame members 11. The adjustable leg support mechanism will
now be described with further reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.
[0030] The adjustable leg support mechanism 20 comprises an
open-ended sleeve 21 which is adapted to receive a support rod 22
therethrough and wherein the support rod 22 has at least a
longitudinal toothed edge section 23 and is adapted to secure to a
bottom support foot 24, as illustrated in FIG. 6. A tooth engaging
member 25 is pivotally secured to the sleeve 21 and has a tooth
engaging head 26 which is biased against the toothed edge 23 inside
the sleeve 22 for supporting the sleeve about the support rod 22 at
a desired location therealong. The tooth engaging member is a
ratchet-like member and permits upward displacement of the sleeve
21 about the support rod 22 by simply pulling the sleeve upwardly
along the rod 22.
[0031] The tooth engaging head 26 is mounted on a pivot pin 27 and
is provided with a lever arm 28 integrally formed therewith and
which constitutes a means to unbias the tooth engaging head from
the toothed edge 23 to permit downward displacement of the sleeve
21 about the rod 22. The lever 28, due to its own weight, biases
the tooth engaging head inwardly of a rectangular passage of the
open-ended sleeve through an aperture 30 formed in a side wall 31
of the sleeve 21. It is pointed out that the support rod 22 is of
square cross-section and received in close sliding fit within the
rectangular passage 29 of the sleeve.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the saw tooth formations 23' each define
a horizontal support ledge 32 and an outwardly sloping wall section
33. The tooth engaging head 26 has an engaging projection 34 which
is of wedge-shaped formation 34' and defines a flat bottom wall 35
for seated engagement on a support ledge 32 of the saw tooth
formation and a rearwardly sloping upper wall 36 for frictional
sliding engagement against the outwardly sloping wall section 33
when the sleeve is retracted upwardly along the support rod and
thereby providing the ratchet effect.
[0033] As better illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tooth engaging
head 26 is pivotally secured by the pivot pin 27 which is supported
between a pair of support flanges 37 secured to the sleeve 21 and
hereinshown as forming an integral part thereof extending beyond
the rectangular passage 29. In order to disconnect the sleeve from
the support rod, it is merely necessary to pull the lever arm 28
upwardly in the direction of arrow 38, as shown in FIG. 2 thereby
causing the wedge shape formation 34 to retract outwardly of the
rectangular passage 29 through the aperture 30.
[0034] With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, there is
illustrated an arresting means in the form of a locking lever 40
which is hingedly connected to the sleeve support flanges 37 by a
pivot connection 41. The locking lever 40 has an arresting
formation 42 for removable engagement with the tooth engaging head
26 to prevent displacement of the lever arm 28 and disengagement of
the engaging projection 34 with the toothed edge section 23 of the
support rod 22. This locking lever 40 has a finger engaging
formation 43 to provide disconnection of the arresting formation 42
from a notch 44 provided in a rear top portion of the tooth
engaging head 26.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a rod connector 50 in the form of
a tubular member is secured to the sleeve 21 for connection to a
transverse tubular rod 51, as will be described later in detail,
whereby to interconnect two opposed leg support mechanisms 20
together in tandem, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 13 and 14.
[0036] Attachment means in the form of a vertical connecting post
52, is also secured to the sleeve 21 and herein via the rod
connector 50 on a top wall thereof and projects upwardly on a
vertical axis 52' which is parallel to the longitudinal axis 53 of
the sleeve. The connector 50 extends on a transverse longitudinal
axis 54. The vertical post 52 is structured for release engagement
with a hollow, tubular end section 55, see FIG. 6, of a vertical
corner frame member, herein a hollow tubular frame member 11 as is
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0037] The sleeve 21 is further provided with flocking means in the
form of a spring-bias lock pin 56 which is spring-biased inside the
rectangular passage 29 by a spring 57 whereby to lock the support
rod with the sleeve at one or more predetermined positions as
dictated by holes 58 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B) provided in a wall 59 of
the support rod 22 opposed to the toothed edge section 23.
Accordingly, when the sleeve is displaced upwardly or downwardly it
will be arrested from the displacement when the pin enters one of
the holes 58 delimiting the upward and downward trajectory of the
sleeve over the support rod 22. The lock pin 56 is further provided
with a retracting finger engaging head 59 to disengage the pin 56
from the hole 58. This pin is constantly urged against the wall 59
of the support rod and slides therealong during the displacement of
the sleeve thereabout.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 8 it can be seen that a support wheel
60 is also securable to the sleeve by support means herein an
attachment sleeve 61 welded to the sleeve 21 and projecting along
the horizontal axis 54. The wheel 60 is secured to the attachment
sleeve 61 by a lock pin 62. The wheel 60 is mounted with its planar
axis of rotation 63 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 53
of the sleeve 21 and transverse to the axis 54. By removing the
lock pin 62 the wheel is easily removable from the attachment
sleeve 61 which is permanently secured to the open-ended sleeve
21.
[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 12, there is shown a further
embodiment wherein the rod connector 50 is constructed differently
than that illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. As hereinshown, the rod
connector comprises a horizontal lock flange 70 which is secured to
the sleeve 21 and has an arcuate outer edge 71 (see FIG. 9)
provided with two or more locking cavities 72 disposed therealong.
A pivot connecting flange 73 is secured to the sleeve 21 and is
disposed a predetermined distance above the horizontal lock flange
70 and extends parallel thereto. Both the lock flange 70 and pivot
connecting flange 73 are provided with through bores 70' and 73',
respectively, to receive a pivot pin 74 therethrough, see FIG. 8.
The horizontal rod 51 is provided with a transverse bushing 75 at
an end thereof and constitutes a rod connector which is simply
connected between the lock flange 70 and the pivot connecting
flange 73 by the pivot pin 74 as illustrated in FIG. 8. As also
shown in FIG. 8, the vertical connecting post 52 is herein secured
adjacent the connecting end of the horizontal rod 51 for release
engagement with the hollow tubular end 55 of a vertical corner
frame member 11 of a scaffolding assembly. The lock flanges 70, 73
permit the foot plates 24 to the angulated at a desired angle
independent from one another to adapt to the support surface on
which they need to rest, i.e. a narrow step or stair, etc.
[0040] A position arresting pin 76 interconnects the rod connector
or rod end 51' to the lock flange 70 when the pin 76 is received in
one of the locking cavities 72. The position arresting pin 76 is
provided with finger engaging means in the form of a top handle 77
to retract the arresting pin from one of the locking cavities 72
for disengagement therewith. Accordingly, the sleeve 22 and its
wheel 60 can be locked at different angles with respect to the rod
51.
[0041] As can be seen from FIGS. 11 to 12, the transverse tubular
rod 51 is a telescopic rod 80 for adjustment and for connection to
scaffolding having vertical corner posts 11, 11' spaced at
different distances from one another. This telescopic tubular rod
80 is capable of adjusting the spacing between two vertical post
connectors 52 at opposed ends of the tubular rod whereby to
interconnect two opposed leg support mechanisms 20 in a tandem
arrangement. The lock pin 81 interconnects the two pipe sections
80' and 80'' together, once the tubular rod 80 is of proper length.
A handle 82 is connected to the tubular rod 80 to facilitate the
horizontal adjustment of the tandem arrangement by simply providing
a means to pull up on the opposed leg support mechanisms whereby
the sleeve 21 rides up on the respective support rods 22. A level
83 is secured to the top of the tubular rod 80 and indicates the
proper level of the rod. Of course a further level, not shown,
could also be mounted transverse to the level 83 to provide for the
leveling along the transverse axis or in a transverse plane when
the tandem arrangement is connected to a scaffolding assembly.
[0042] With reference now to FIGS. 13 and 14 there is shown the
construction of a carriage frame 85 which is secured to carriage
connectors 86 and 86' each, secured to a respective one of the
wheel attachment sleeves 61 and 61'. The carriage connectors 86 and
86' are each constituted by an elongated flange 87 having a slot 88
therein to receive a free end of a carriage frame connecting rod 89
attached thereto by a connecting pin element 90 whereby to permit
displacement of the connecting end of the connecting rods 89 along
the flange 86.
[0043] As hereinshown, the carriage frame 85 has a pair of these
connecting rods 89 and 89' connected to a pivoting bar 91 which is
pivotally connected at an end 92 to the tubular rod 80. The other
end of the connecting rods 89 and 89' are pivotally attached to a
forward end of the pivotal bar 91 on pivot connections 93 and 93',
respectively. A handle 94 is secured to the free end of the pivotal
bar 91 whereby to provide ease of pulling a scaffolding secured to
the tandem arrangement. As shown in FIG. 3, the wheels 60 of the
tandem arrangement are disposed transverse to the tubular rod 80
but these can swivel about the ends of the tubular rod by adjusting
the angle of the wheels by withdrawing the lock pin 76 from
engagement with the horizontal locking flange 70 and displacing the
wheels by pushing laterally on the pulling handle 94 until the lock
pin 76 falls by gravity into the adjacent locking cavity 72 whereby
both wheels can be locked at an angular position. As shown in FIG.
14, the wheels have been displaced 90 degrees about the ends of the
tubular rod 80 whereby a scaffolding structure connected thereto
can be easily pulled sideways.
[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B, there will be described
the construction of the bottom support foot 24 which is secured at
the bottom of the corner post 11 of a scaffolding assembly. As
hereinshown, the support foot 24 is formed from a rectangular metal
plate which is configured to form a sliding plate 99 defining a
contacting bottom wall 100 for sliding displacement on a support
surface. This slide plate 99 also has opposed outwardly angled end
flanges 101 to permit the displacement of the scaffolding over an
irregular ground surface as these angled end flanges provide for
the sliding plate to slide or be guided over objects or
irregularities on a ground surface. They also provide for the
scaffolding to be easily displaced on a snow covered surface.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 6, it can be seen that the center of the
bottom wall 100 of the plate has a cavitated section 102 whereby to
permit the securement of a vertical connector 103 for connection
with the bottom end of a vertical corner frame member 11, as
previously described. The vertical connector 103 is disposed
substantially central on the top wall 104 of the slide plate and
provides removable connection with the lower hollow end section 55
of the corner frame member or post 11. It is provided with
spring-loaded prongs 105 to engage within the locking holes 106
provided in the end section 55 of the corner posts 11. Such
interconnection is well known in the art. Accordingly, the present
invention also encompasses a novel support foot structure for
connection directly to the scaffolding corner posts.
[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, there is shown the slide
plate as previously described but wherein the support rod 22 is
secured thereto at a lower end 22' by a suitable connecting means
103'. Therefore, in order to render a scaffolding assembly easily
displaceable over a ground surface, a tandem arrangement is secured
to one pair of corner posts of a rectangular scaffolding assembly
and the other pair of corner posts are connected directly to a
respective one of the sliding plates. Therefore, the entire
assembled scaffolding structure is easily displaced over a ground
surface.
[0047] As above described, the present invention provides an
adjustable leg support mechanism which can be easily assembled and
disassembled in component parts for ease of transport and storage.
Also, some of the component parts are considered to be optional,
such as the support wheels or the carriage frame and the support
wheels can be adapted to the leg support mechanisms only when
required. When it is required to transport a scaffolding assembly
the sleeve 21 is disconnected from the toothed edge of the support
rod 22 and the sleeve is lowered therealong until the support wheel
rests on the ground surface. The support rod 22 is then pulled
upwardly above the ground surface and the sleeve is relocked
thereto to maintain the support foot or slide plate 24 elevated
from the ground surface. The tandem arrangement is then supported
on its opposed support wheel 60. Of course, these tandem
arrangements can be connected to opposed sides of a scaffolding
structure wherein all corners are adjustable and provided with
wheels.
[0048] It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any
obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein,
provided such examples fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
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