U.S. patent application number 12/184723 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-04 for scaffolding platform with materials ledge.
Invention is credited to Christopher A. Kuseski.
Application Number | 20100025152 12/184723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41607193 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100025152 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuseski; Christopher A. |
February 4, 2010 |
SCAFFOLDING PLATFORM WITH MATERIALS LEDGE
Abstract
Scaffolding for use along a wall of a building includes at least
one mast and a platform supported in an elevated position on the
mast. The platform has a deck and a walk board below the front edge
of the deck for supporting workmen along the wall of the building.
In addition, the platform has a materials ledge that is located
above the deck immediately behind the front edge of the deck, so
that workmen on the walk board may easily retrieve materials and
tools that are on the ledge.
Inventors: |
Kuseski; Christopher A.;
(Kirkwood, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
POLSTER, LIEDER, WOODRUFF & LUCCHESI
12412 POWERSCOURT DRIVE SUITE 200
ST. LOUIS
MO
63131-3615
US
|
Family ID: |
41607193 |
Appl. No.: |
12/184723 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 5/003 20130101;
E04G 1/20 20130101; E04G 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/129 |
International
Class: |
E04G 5/00 20060101
E04G005/00 |
Claims
1. A platform for scaffolding, said platform comprising: a deck
having a front edge; a walk board located below the deck at the
front edge of the deck and projecting forwardly from the deck, the
walk board being narrower than the deck; and a materials ledge
located above the deck at the front edge of the deck and set
rearwardly from the walk board so that those on the walk board can
easily retrieve items on the materials ledge, the materials ledge
being substantially narrower than the deck.
2. A platform according to claim 1 and further comprising an
underlying structure located beneath and supporting the deck and
the walk board.
3. A platform according to claim 2 wherein the deck extends beneath
the materials ledge.
4. A platform according to claim 2 wherein the materials ledge is
between 7 and 14 inches above the deck.
5. A platform according to claim 4 wherein the materials ledge is
between 30 and 38 inches above the walk board.
6. A platform according to claim 2 wherein the materials ledge has
an opening for receiving and retaining tools.
7. A platform according to claim 3 and further comprising legs
extending between the materials ledge and the deck for supporting
the materials ledge above the deck.
8. A platform according to claim 3 wherein a space exists between
the materials ledge and the deck, and further comprising an
electrical outlet in the space.
9. A platform according to claim 8 and further comprising a water
hydrant located adjacent to the materials ledge.
10. A scaffolding comprising the platform of claim 2 and at least
one mast extending upwardly from a supporting surface through the
platform for supporting the platform in an elevated position above
the supporting surface.
11. The scaffolding according to claim 10 wherein the deck has an
opening through the mast extends.
12. The scaffolding according to claim 10 in combination with a
vertical wall of a building, the scaffolding being located such
that the walk board of the platform is along the vertical wall.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates in general to scaffolding, and more
particularly to an elevated platform for scaffolding.
[0004] Masons and those who assist them often work well above the
ground when laying the masonry for multistory buildings and other
tall structures. Scaffolding enables them to work at such high
elevations. The typical scaffolding used by masonry contractors
includes at least one mast and a platform that is supported on the
mast. The platform climbs the mast as the masonry rises, keeping
the masons and other workers at the level of the highest tier of
masonry.
[0005] The platform typically has a deck and a much narrower walk
board located about two feet below the deck. The walk board lies
closest to the wall under construction and the masons work on it as
they lay the masonry. The other workers, who assist the masons,
work on the much wider deck. Here they maintain mortar at the
correct consistency and place it on mortarboards where the masons
can reach it. Likewise, they keep the masons supplied with brick,
blocks, or stone, again placing it where the masons can easily
reach it. Even so, to grasp bricks or other forms of masonry, the
masons must turn and bend over to the level of the deck. The same
holds true when they load their trowels with mortar located on
mortarboards. The constant bending coupled with turning, leaves
many masons fatigued and plagued with joint and muscle
infirmities.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of scaffolding provided with a
platform constructed in accordance with and embodying the present
invention, with the scaffolding being along a wall under
construction;
[0007] FIG. 2 is an end view, partially broken away, of the
scaffolding taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front view of the scaffolding taken along line
3-3 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Referring to the drawings, scaffolding A (FIG. 1) serves to
elevate those who work on it above the ground along a wall B of a
building or other structure so that they may undertake work at
those elevations while remaining safe and free from repetitive
twists and bends. The scaffolding A is particularly suited for use
by masons and those workers who assist masons.
[0010] Basically, the scaffolding A includes at least one, and
preferably two or more masts 2 and a platform 4 that is supported
on the masts 2. The platform 4 has the capacity to climb the masts
2 and thus change its elevation. To this end, the platform 4 may
carry a motor that raises and lowers it.
[0011] Each mast 2 has a base 10 and a tower 12 that rises from the
base 10. The base 10 rests on a solid supporting surface, such as
the ground or pavement, and is provided with leveling devices 14,
such as screw jacks, to bring the tower 12 to and maintain it in a
vertical orientation. The towers 12 extend through the platform 4,
which moves upwardly and downwardly on the towers 12. Each tower 12
includes multiple sections that fit together end to end. As the
tower 12 grows and the platform 4 rises on it, additional sections
are added to the tower 12, and those already there are attached to
the completed portion of the wall B to stabilize the tower 12.
[0012] The platform 4 includes (FIGS. 2 and 3) a deck 20, a walk
board 22 below the deck 20, and a materials shelf or ledge 24 above
the deck 20. All three provide horizontal surfaces. In addition,
the platform 4 has an underlying structure 26 of trusses and
connecting members that support the deck 20 and the walk board 22.
The towers 12 for the masts 2 connect with platform 4 through the
latter's underlying structure 26.
[0013] The deck 20 provides the widest of the three horizontal
surfaces (FIG. 2). It extends all the way to the rear of the
platform 4, its rear edge generally connecting with the rearmost
components of the underlying structure 26. Here the platform 4 is
provided with a guard rail 28 that attaches to the underlying
structure 26 and projects upwardly from the deck 20. At the deck
20, the guard rail 28 secures a toe board 30 that prevent items
from sliding off the rear edge of the deck 20. Actually, the guard
rail 28 and toe board 30 may extend along the ends of the deck 20
as well. The deck 20 is generally continuous, but it does have
openings 32 (FIG. 1) through which the towers 12 of the mast 12
extend.
[0014] The walk board 22 projects forwardly beyond the front edge
of the deck 20, yet lies between 24 and 27 inches below the deck
20. It is about 20 inches wide. The front edge of the platform 4
lies immediately above the walk board 22, and thus the walk board
22 is closest to the wall B when the scaffolding A is in use.
[0015] The materials ledge 24 lies above the deck 20 (FIGS. 2 and
3) along the front edge of the deck 20, indeed at an elevation that
places it near the waist of a mason standing on the walk board 22.
As such it should be between about 7 and 14 inches higher than the
deck 20 and between 30 and 38 inches higher than the walk board 22.
It is supported on legs 34 that extend from and are secured to the
deck 20. The ledge 24 extends backwardly over the deck 20 for about
16 or 17 inches, or in other words, is about 16 or 17 inches wide,
but can be between 15 and 20 inches wide. The ledge 24 contains
openings 36 (FIG. 1) that are suitable for receiving tools used by
masons such as cement trowels and levels. It must possess enough
strength to support a small stack of bricks, stone, or cement
blocks and also a mortarboard laden with mortar. In the space
between the ledge 24 and the deck 20, the platform 4 may be
provided with electrical outlets 38 for power tools and also
hydrants 40 for supplying water to mix with cement (FIGS. 1 and
3).
[0016] In use, the scaffolding A enables masons and the workers
that assist them to work comfortably and safely at the elevation of
the highest tier of masonry for the wall B as the wall B rises. The
masts 2 support the platform 4 at an elevation convenient for
masons to work at the very top of the highest tier, and at this
elevation, the walk board 22 is normally below the highest tier.
The masons stand on the walk board 22. The workers that assist the
masons remain for the most part on the deck 20. Here they mix
cement and water to provide mortar for the masons, or if the cement
and water are mixed below, they maintain the mortar at the correct
consistency by mixing more water with it from time to time. Just as
importantly, they place the mortar and bricks or other masonry
where the masons, who are on the walk board 22, may easily retrieve
them--and this is on the materials ledge 24. To grasp a brick or
other individual item of masonry, a mason need only turn partially
and remove it from the ledge 24. Likewise, when the mason needs
mortar, he merely loads his trowel with mortar that is of the
correct consistency on a mortarboard that rests on the materials
ledge 24. Neither of these efforts requires the mason to bend over
to retrieve bricks or mortar at the level of the deck 20.
[0017] Should the mason require power tools, those tools may be
plugged into one of the electrical outlets 38 immediately below the
ledge 24 and above the deck 20. This keeps the deck 20 and walk
board 22 free of extension cords. The workers may obtain water from
the hydrant 40, preferably through a short hose connected to the
hydrant 40.
[0018] The mason's tools when not in use may be stored along the
ledge 24 by inserting them into the openings 36 in the ledge
24.
[0019] While the scaffolding A is well suited for use by masonry
contractors, it also has utility for other types of elevated
work.
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