U.S. patent application number 16/663529 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-20 for scaffold planks.
The applicant listed for this patent is Next Generation Scaffold Services, Inc.. Invention is credited to Johnny Curtis, Stephen Howard Thacker.
Application Number | 20200056384 16/663529 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63920132 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-20 |
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20200056384 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Curtis; Johnny ; et
al. |
February 20, 2020 |
Scaffold Planks
Abstract
A first scaffold plank member having a board like member having
a top surface, first and second opposing end edges and a first and
second opposing side edges; a first and second side rails, the side
rail attached to the board like member near the respective side
edges, each respective side rail extending downwardly from the top
surface, each side rail having an inward and an outward facing
surface, positioned near both the first and second opposing end
edges, a first and second clips separated by a distance from one
another, the first and second clips extending outwardly from the
respective end edges, each clip having a terminating downwardly
projecting lip, and a channel section located between the lip and
the respective end edge, the channel section shaped to engage a
horizontal scaffold member; a series of slots through the top
surface, said series of slots positioned near the first side edge,
each slot of said series of slots having a portion of the slot
positioned inwardly of the inward facing surface, each slot being
sized to accept a portion of a clip through the slot, two of said
slots are separated a distance to accept two clips on a second
scaffold board whereby, if a portion of a second scaffold plank's
first and second clips are inserted through these slots, so that
the second scaffold plank is supported by the first scaffold
plank.
Inventors: |
Curtis; Johnny; (Denham
Springs, LA) ; Thacker; Stephen Howard; (The
Woodlands, TX) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Next Generation Scaffold Services, Inc. |
Vista |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63920132 |
Appl. No.: |
16/663529 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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PCT/US18/29615 |
Apr 26, 2018 |
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16663529 |
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62490908 |
Apr 27, 2017 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 5/08 20130101; E04G
1/152 20130101; E04G 7/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04G 5/08 20060101
E04G005/08; E04G 7/00 20060101 E04G007/00 |
Claims
1. A first scaffold plank member comprising a board like member
having a top surface, first and second opposing end edges and a
first and second opposing side edges; a first and second side
rails, said first side rail attached to the board like member near
the first side edge, and the second side rail attached near said
second side edge, each respective side rail extending downwardly
from the top surface, each side rail having at least one outward
facing surface and at least one inward facing surface; positioned
near both the first and second opposing end edges, a first and
second clip attached to the first scaffold plank separated by a
distance from one another, the first and second clips extending
outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip having a
terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel section
located between the lip and the respective end edge, the channel
section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member; a series of
slots through the top surface, said series of slots positioned near
the first side edge, each slot of said series of slots having a
portion of the slot positioned inwardly of one of said at least one
inward facing surfaces of said first side rail, each slot in said
series of slots being sized to accept a portion of a clip through
said slot, each slot of said series of slots positioned through
said top surface of said first scaffold plank and at least two of
said slots in said series of slots are separated a distance to
accept two clips on a second scaffold board whereby, if a portion
of a second scaffold plank's first and second clips on said first
end edge of said second scaffold plank edge are inserted through
two of said slots in said series of slots, the lips of such
inserted first and second clips would be positioned near to one of
said at least one inward facing surfaces of said first side rail of
said first scaffold plank and the channels of the second scaffold
plank are thereby supported by the first scaffold plank, the top
surfaces of said first and second scaffold board's top surfaces are
closely aligned, and the first end edge of the second scaffold
board is solely supported by said first scaffold plank.
2. The first scaffold plank of claim 1 where each of said series of
slots are aligned with one another on an axis on said top surface
extending between said first and second end edges.
3. The first scaffold plank of claim 1 where each of said series of
slots begin at said first side edge and extend toward said second
side edge.
4. The first scaffold plank of claim 3 wherein each of said series
of slots are positioned partially through said first side rail.
5. The first scaffold plank of claim 4 wherein each of said slots
in series of slots has a bottom portion that terminates in said
first side rail, said bottom forming a landing site to couple to a
clip on a second scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to
thereby support a second scaffold board on said bottom portion.
6. The first scaffold plank of claim 2 wherein said slots are
offset a distance from said first edge, and said top of said
scaffold board between each slot and said first edge form landing
sites to couple to a clip on a second scaffold board inserted into
one of said slots to thereby support a second scaffold board on
said landing site.
7. The first scaffold plank of claim 3 where said series of slots
are not equally spaced along said first edge.
8. The first scaffold board according to claim 4 wherein the clip
width above said channel, said width being less than or equal to
the depth of the slot bottom from the top surface.
9. A method of coupling a first scaffold plank with a second
scaffold plank on at least one end, in a scaffold structure
comprising horizontal and vertical scaffold members; the first
scaffold plank comprising a board like member having a top surface,
a bottom surface, first and second terminating ends each with an
end edge, and a first and second opposing side edges; a first and
second side rails, said first side rail attached to the board like
member near the first side edge, and the second side rail attached
near said second side edge, each respective side rail extending
downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having at least one
outward facing surface and at least one inward facing surface;
positioned near both the first and second opposing end edges, a
first and second clip attached to the first scaffold plank
separated by a distance from one another, the first and second
clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip
having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel
section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the
channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member; a
series of slots through the top surface, said series of slots
positioned near the first side edge, each slot of said series of
slots having a portion of the slot positioned inwardly of one of
said at least one inward facing surfaces of said first side rail,
each slot in said series of slots being sized to accept a portion
of a clip through said slot, each slot of said series of slots
positioned through said top surface of said first scaffold plank
and at least two of said slots in said series of slots are
separated a distance to accept two clips on a second scaffold
board; said first scaffold board supported by a first and second
horizontal member on its two terminating end edges; said second
scaffold board comprising: a board like member having a top
surface, a bottom surface, first and second terminating ends each
with an end edge, and a first and second opposing side edges; a
first and second side rails, said first side rail attached to the
board like member near the first side edge, and the second side
rail attached near said second side edge, each respective side rail
extending downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having at
least one outward facing surface and at least one inward facing
surface; positioned near both the first and second opposing end
edges, a first and second clip attached to the first scaffold board
separated by a distance from one another, the first and second
clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip
having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel
section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the
channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member the
method comprising the steps of: positioning said second scaffold
board at substantially 90 degrees to said first scaffold board,
said second scaffold board positioned such that the first and
second clips of the second scaffold board on the first terminating
end are aligned with corresponding slots on the first scaffold
board; lowering the second scaffold board's first terminating end
so that a portion of the first and second clips on the second
scaffold board member pass through the aligned slots of the first
scaffold board until the second scaffold board's first terminating
end is supported solely by the first scaffold board member without
said second scaffold board's first terminating end being directly
coupled to a horizontal scaffold member.
10. The method of claim 9 where said first scaffold plank further
comprises where each of said series of slots are aligned with one
another on an axis on said top surface extending between said first
and second end edges.
11. The method of claim 9 where said first scaffold plank further
comprises where each of said series of slots begin at said first
side edge and extend toward said second side edge.
12. The method of claim 11 where said first scaffold plank further
comprises wherein each of said series of slots are positioned
partially through said first side rail.
13. The method of claim 12 where said first scaffold plank further
comprises: wherein each of said slots in series of slots has a
bottom portion that terminates in said first side rail, said bottom
forming a landing site to couple to a clip on a second scaffold
board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a second
scaffold board on said bottom portion.
14. The method of claim 10 where said first scaffold plank further
comprises wherein said slots are offset a distance from said first
edge, and said top of said scaffold board between each slot and
said first edge form landing sites to couple to a clip on a second
scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a
second scaffold board on said landing site.
15. The method of claim 11 where said first scaffold plank further
comprises where said series of slots are not equally spaced along
said first edge.
16. The method of claim 12 where said first scaffold plank further
comprises the first scaffold board according to claim 4 wherein the
clip width above said channel, said width being less than or equal
to the depth of the slot bottom from the top surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT/US2018/29615 filed
on Apr. 26, 2018, which application claimed the priority benefit of
U.S. Provisional Application 62/490,908 filed Apr. 27, 2017, both
of which are incorporated by reference herein in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A scaffold frame is an interconnected series of horizontal
vertical scaffold members and vertical scaffold members used to
create a supporting structure for an elevated work surface. The
horizontal and vertical scaffold members are generally pipe shaped
members (circular or square in cross section, for instance) where
the ends of each horizontal scaffold member terminates in
connectors that attaches to a vertical scaffold members. The
connectors can be clamp members (such as in tube and clamp
scaffolding, see for instance, FIG. 1) or more complex connectors,
such scaffolding where an end connector positioned on the end of a
horizontal member, where the end connector has a lip or hook
section that couples with a structure on a vertical scaffold
member. The lip sections are designed to engage or rest on the
corresponding vertical joint connector, such as an upstanding cup
or an annular ring positioned on a vertical scaffold member. One
such joint is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,307, which discloses
a connector positioned on a horizontal scaffold member, where the
connector has two vertically spaced hook sections. Another cup type
of latching connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,078,532 and
5,028,164 and in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/489,166 all hereby
incorporated by reference. These patents also show an end connector
positioned on a horizontal scaffold member, where the connector has
two vertically spaced hooked sections that couple with two
vertically spaced upstanding cup or ring members located on the
vertical scaffold member. In this device, the hooked sections
engage the top edge of the cup, and a pivoting member or latch,
positioned on the horizontal end connector, is pivoted into
position below the cup member.
[0003] Instead of upstanding cups, a flat annular ring with
openings in the ring may be used as the vertical connector on the
vertical scaffold member, to couple to a connector on a horizontal
scaffold member. Examples of annular ring/connector systems are
shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,273,463; 6,027,276; 5,961,240; 5,605,204;
4,840,513; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. These
systems are generally referred to as wedge or pinlock scaffold
systems. The pinlock system relies upon a wedge or pin being
slidable (generally hammer driven) through the horizontal end
connector and rosette. The above "system" scaffolds require a
horizontal member to couple to a vertical member, that is, a
horizontal member cannot couple to another horizontal member.
[0004] Once a scaffold frame is erected, an elevated work surface
is created by using scaffold boards that are supported at each end
of the board by horizontal scaffold frame members. Typically,
scaffold boards or planks are wooden, fiberglass, or metal
board-like members, having a length (such as 10 feet) and a width,
such as 9 inches. A scaffold board generally comprises a top
surface, such as 6 inch, 9 inch, 12 inch, or 18 inch wide board,
and come in various lengths, such as 2 feet long to 10 to 16 feet
long. A typical metal scaffold board is shown in FIG. 2, showing a
metal plank 1, having a top surface 40, and two side rail
extensions 70 extending downwardly at about 90 degrees to the top
surface 1 adjacent the edges of the top surface. The top surface 40
can be a solid surface, a surface with drain holes, or formed from
a series of metal plates (see FIG. 3). The scaffold plank side
rails 70 may be integrally formed with the top surface (such as by
roll forming the plank from a single piece of metal), or may be
separately attached, such as by welding, riveting, etc. Each metal
board top surface has two terminating ends, (a first terminating
end edge 202 and a second terminating end edge 204 (not shown)).
The edge is linear, but may be curved. Also shown in FIG. 2, the
board 10 has a first top side edge 212 and a second top side edge
214. Located near each terminating end edge 204, 206 is at least
one (preferably two or more) clip members 50. As shown in FIG. 2,
one embodiment of clip members 50 are shaped plate members with a
downwardly facing channel 52 rearward of downward lip section 51.
The channel 52 is shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member in
a channel 52 or cutout section (not shown). As shown, the clips are
vertical orientated plate members, one attached to each side rail
70. The clips can be "L" shaped member, "U" or "C" or other "hook"
type of engagement members. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, each
clip 50 has a leading downward facing lip portion 51 (forming a
hook-like structure) and a downward facing channel 52 behind the
lip, together forming a "U" shaped clip or cleat 50. The channel 52
is located between the lip 51 and the adjacent terminating edge 202
or 204 of the scaffold board. The channel 52 may end before the
respective terminating end edge 202 or 204, or at the terminating
end edge, or in other embodiments, behind the terminating end
edge.
[0005] When a scaffold board 10 is placed in a scaffold structure,
the clip channel 52 will rest or engage a horizontal scaffold
member, thereby supporting the scaffold plank 10. The clips 50 can
be vertical orientated plates, such as shown in FIG. 2, or the clip
plates 50 may be substantially horizontally oriented formed or
shaped plates, such as shown in FIG. 4, or the clips may be square
or circular or other shapes in cross section to couple with a
horizontal scaffold member or another scaffold plank. The scaffold
elevated work surface generally forms a continuous uninterrupted
surface, with safety railing surrounding the work deck or work
surface. Often however, the elevated surface may have to be
constructed around a structure or obstacle. For instance, pipes,
chimneys or conduits may need to extend through the work deck. An
obstruction that penetrates through the deck of a scaffold deck
will leave an opening in the deck, where the length of the opening
corresponds to that of the adjacent scaffold board, as depicted in
FIG. 5, a top view of a deck with a conduit extending through the
deck area. To close the resulting opening, often wooden scaffold
boards are used across the opening, where the boards are placed
across the metal planks (for instance, at 90 degrees to the metal
planks). However, the wooden planks are a tripping hazard.
[0006] Alternatively, two "interior" horizontal scaffold members
can be positioned in the interior of the frame, on opposite sides
of the obstruction (which will require additional vertical members,
as the horizontal members generally couple to a vertical scaffold
member. particularly in system scaffolding). Note, however, the
"additional vertical scaffold member" can be an intermediate
scaffold joint, one embodiment of which is as disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 8,973,711, hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety, to create a frame structure to allow placement of short
scaffold planks at right angles to the existing scaffold planks, to
thereby close the opening created by the obstacle. This is depicted
in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. A better system is needed to accommodate
openings in scaffold decks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a cartoon perspective of a scaffold system with
elevated deck.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a prior art high
profile scaffold board.
[0009] FIG. 3 is top perspective view of another prior art high
profile scaffold board.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of one end of one
embodiment of the improved low profile scaffold boards.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a top view of a scaffold decking penetrated by an
obstacle.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a top view of a scaffold decking of FIG. 5 with
intermediate horizontal scaffold members laid in the perimeter of
the opening.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a top view of a scaffold decking of FIG. 6 with
scaffold planks laid across and supported by the intermediate
horizontal scaffold members.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of an
improved low profile scaffold board.
[0015] FIG. 9A is a side elevation view of one end of the scaffold
board of FIG. 8.
[0016] FIG. 9B is a side elevation view of two scaffold boards as
in FIG. 8 coupled together in a side-to-end configuration.
[0017] FIG. 9C is a top elevation view of one end of the scaffold
board of FIG. 8.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a cross section through
the scaffold board of FIG. 8.
[0019] FIG. 11A is a top elevation view of another embodiment of
the improved scaffold board.
[0020] FIG. 11B is a side elevation view of the scaffold board of
FIG. 11A.
[0021] FIG. 11C are side elevation views of different embodiments
of low profile clips.
[0022] FIG. 11D are end views of the scaffold board of FIG. 11A,
with 11D-1 showing an end view of the top portion, 11D-3 showing an
end view of the bottom portion, and 11D-2 showing an end view of
the assembled bottom and top portion.
[0023] FIG. 11E is a side elevation view of two of the scaffold
boards of FIG. 11 coupled together in an end-to-side
configuration.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a perspective view depicting an embodiment of the
improved boards in aside-to-end configuration around an
obstacle.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of a scaffold deck
depicting joining a series of scaffold members (10-1 through 10-7)
to two adjacent improved scaffold members (10-C and 10-D) in a side
to end configuration.
[0026] FIG. 14A is a top elevation view of another embodiment of
the improved scaffold board (a high profile configuration).
[0027] FIG. 14B is a side elevation view of the scaffold board of
FIG. 14A.
[0028] FIG. 14C are side elevation views of different embodiments
of high profile clips.
[0029] FIG. 14D are end views of the scaffold board of FIG. 14A,
with 14D-1 showing an end view of the top portion, 14D-3 showing an
end view of the bottom portion, and 14D-2 showing an end view of
the assembled bottom and top portion.
[0030] FIG. 14E is a side elevation view of two of the scaffold
boards of FIG. 14 coupled together in an end-to-side
configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] The invention is an improved scaffold plank. As shown in the
view of FIG. 8, one embodiment of the plank is a board like member
10, having a first and second terminating ends 202, 204, first and
second side edges 212, 214, a top surface 40 extending between the
two terminating ends and two side rails 70, extending downwardly
from the top surface at about 90 degrees, running substantially the
length of the board 10, and are positioned on the scaffold board
near the side edges 202 and 214. Positioned at or near terminating
ends 202, 204 is at least one shaped clip 50, shaped to couple with
a horizontal scaffold member. Generally, the clips are "L," "U" or
"C" shaped plates extending outwardly from the terminating ends of
the plank 10. As shown in FIG. 8, the clips 50 are attached to an
end brace 60 that extends between the side rails 70 of the plank
10. The clips 50 could also be attached to the top surface 40, or
side rails 70, or be integrally formed with the top surface or
rails. In the embodiment shown, the clips 50 are flat metal plates
bent in a "U" shape, where the plate is orientated substantially
horizontally (as opposed to orientated in a vertical orientation,
such as shown in FIG. 2). The horizontal orientation of the clip
50, where the top of plate above the channel 52 is approximately at
the height of the top surface 40 of the plank, allows for the top
surface 40 of the plank to closely align with the top surface of a
supporting horizontal member, such as shown in FIG. 9A. The top
surface 40 shown is formed from a metal plate, such as 16 gauge
steel, with drain holes there through.
[0032] As can be seen in FIG. 8, in one embodiment, the clips 50 on
opposite terminating ends are not aligned, but are offset to
accommodate placement of scaffold boards "end-to-end" lengthwise on
the same horizontal scaffold member. On each terminating end 202
and 204, one clip 50A is positioned near a side rail 70, while the
other clip 50B is offset and interior to the board from the
opposing side rail 70. Also shown is optional tab 90, which
projects from the top surface of the board 40, and has a thickness
of a clip. The tab 90 is placed near the inward clip 50B, to resist
rotation of the board on the supporting horizontal scaffold member
of supporting board member. Tab 90 is positioned so not to
interfere or overlap with an adjacent scaffold board clip when
placed end-to-end lengthwise or in an end-to side configuration
shown in FIG. 10.
[0033] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8, side rails 70 are
positioned adjacent the top surface 40 near the first and second
top side edges 212, 214 to provide stiffening or a truss like
component to the board 10. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 10, the
side rails 70 are shaped frame members, shaped with a bottom facing
foot 71. Each side rail 70 has at least one outward facing surface
75, and one inward facing surface 76. The side rails 70 can be
integrally formed with the top surface 40, such as by roll forming,
or the side rail 60 may be attached to the top of the plank 40,
such as by welding or with rivets or other mechanical attachment
means. The side rails 70 can be a more complex assembled structure
having multiple "rails" or shaped metal pieces, with multiple
inward facing surfaces 76 and multiple outward facing surfaces 75,
such as shown in FIG. 11. As shown in his cross section, the board
is of two piece construction. The top 40 of the board 10 is formed
with first downward side rails, 70A (FIG. 11A). The bottom of the
board, 43, is a second piece, formed with second upward side rails
70B (FIG. 11B). The top and bottom are combined in the assembled
board 10 (shown in FIG. 11C), such as by welding the top piece to
the bottom piece. As shown in FIG. 8, the side rails 70 may also
have openings 79 therethrough. The openings 79 reduce the weight of
the board 10. If openings 79 are included in the side rails 70,
preferably the openings 79 are suitably sized to allow for
placement of a "slick tube" (a smooth tubular member lacking
typical horizontal end connectors) through the openings, so that
adjacent boards can be coupled with the slick tube, providing
additional strength and stiffness to the decking formed from the
scaffold boards.
[0034] The top surface 40 of the scaffold board 10 also has a
series of openings or slots 100. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8,
the slots 100 are placed near but offset from the top side edges of
the board, generally with at least a portion of the slot 100
extending inwardly (or behind) at least outwardly facing surface 75
of the side rails. In the embodiment shown, the slots 100 are
aligned parallel with the side rails 70. The slots 100 in this
embodiment are located at a specific distance inward from the top
edges of the board, and sufficiently sized to allow placement of a
clip 50 of a second scaffold board, orientated at 90 degrees,
through a slot 100, as shown in FIG. 9B. In this configuration, two
boards are coupled together in an "end-to-side" configuration, with
the "end" of one board coupled to the "side" of a second board,
allowing for two boards to be coupled to each other at about 90
degrees, without an intervening horizontal scaffold member. As
shown in this figure, the slot 100 in this embodiment is orientated
so that the lip 51 of the clip 50 of the second board extends
through the slot, and the channel cut out of the second board is
supported by the first scaffold board's top surface 40. The slots
100 are configured to allow such board-to-board coupling, where the
coupled boards are orientated at 90 degrees to one another with the
top surface of the coupled boards being adjacent, but preferably
not overlapping. As shown in FIG. 12, one board 10B is coupled to
an adjacent board 10A, at 90 degrees to board 10A, where the clips
50 on board 10B mate with slots 100 on board 10A. This
board-to-board coupling does not require an intervening horizontal
member (such as would otherwise be required, as shown in FIG.
7).
[0035] As shown in FIG. 13, a decking can be formed by coupling
some board members to horizontal scaffold members (board 10-A,
10-B, 10-C and 10-D), while coupling other boards (10-1, 10-2,
10-3, 10-4, 10-5, 10-6 and 10-7) at 90 degrees to certain (boards
10-C and 10-D) of the boards supported by horizontal scaffold
members. As shown in FIG. 12, such board-to-board coupling allows
for placement of a scaffold structure around obstructions, such as
pipes 1000. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9B, the coupled board
10B top surface is slightly higher than the adjoining board 10A top
surface. These surfaces can be aligned if the side edge of the
board 10A, immediately adjacent the openings 100, are formed (such
as by roll forming) to be slightly depressed from the top surface
40 of the board (depressed the thickness of the clip plate 50, for
instance). The improved scaffold boards can be combined with
existing scaffold boards, or used alone, to create scaffold
decking. The placement of the clips 50 on the end edges of each
board can be varied, and the number of clips can be varied. As
shown, the slots 100 are uniformly distributed, but this also can
be varied. For instance, a board may have one terminating end
containing three clips spaced in the center of a board, while the
other terminating end of the board has two clips located near
opposing side rails. The openings or slots 100 in the plank do not
have to be uniformly spaced, but are located and spaced to couple
with the respective clips. In certain embodiments, slots 100 may
also be present in the ends of the boards to accommodate end-to-end
placement, such as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, later
described.
[0036] If the board is constructed with clips 50 positioned
vertically on the side rails (such as shown in FIG. 2), the desired
openings or slots 100 in the top portion of the board may be slots
that start at the board side edge, and extend from the edge
inwardly toward the center of the board, such as shown in FIGS. 14
and 11) (FIG. 14 shows a high profile board, while FIG. 11 shows a
low profile board). In these two embodiments, the clips on the high
profile board are vertically oriented plates, while the clips on
the low are also vertical plates but of thicker material, as the
top of the clip above the channel is thinner, but must still be
sufficiently strong to support the scaffold board. Instead of
plates, the clips could also be formed from square or rectangular
rods. As shown in this embodiment in FIGS. 14E and 11E, the cleats
or clips 50 on the board supported board 10A extend partially
through the side rail 70 of the supporting board 10B, through the
slide slits 100 on the supporting board. The slots 100 partially
extend through the side rail 70, but generally, not completely
through the side rail 70, as the side rail 70 (or a portion
thereof) will support the coupled board, as depicted in FIGS. 14E
and 11E. The side rail, as shown, has an inverted or upside down
"L" shape, (both sides therefore forming a "T" shaped board in
cross section) where the leg of the L is positioned near the top
surface of the board. The height of this top leg of the L should
preferably closely match the height of a clip above the associated
channel plus the thickness of the top surface. This height allows a
side to end configuration to have the two adjoining top surfaces of
the boards to be level or almost level with each other. The length
of the top leg of the L should closely match the length of the
channel of a clip from the inner edge of the downwardly projecting
lip to the adjoining end edge of the associated board. This length
allows two boards, in a "side to end configuration" to be
positioned so that the side edge of the supporting board is almost
immediately adjacent to the end edge of the supported board. That
is, the two top surfaces of the boards will be adjacent, with only
a small gap between the boards in a side to end configuration.
Proper dimensioning allows a clip to rest on the side wall and
allow the two top surfaces to be closely aligned. Using one or more
pieces, such as the top and bottom pieces shown in FIGS. 14D and
15D, provides strength and rigidity to the side rail to assist to
support a board on such side rails.
[0037] Details of these boards are shown in the remaining portions
of FIGS. 14 and 11. For instance. As shown in FIG. 14D, the board
10 is formed from a top piece 200 and a bottom piece 300. Both top
and bottom pieces have side rail extension portions 70. On the top
piece 100, the side rail extension 70 includes a ledge portion 77
where the side rail portion bends inwardly 80 degrees. The slots
100 in the top of the board extend through the top side rail
portion, but preferably not through the bottom side rail portion.
When a board supports another board in an end-to-side
configuration, the side supported board's clips will extend through
the slots in the supporting board, to terminate and rest (and be
supported by) the ledger 77, as shown in FIG. 14E.
[0038] When vertical clips are used, the two terminating ends of
the scaffold board may be mirror images, or almost mirror images,
as the offset needed for horizontal clips is not required for
end-to-end positioning. See FIGS. 14A and 11A. As shown, the
terminating ends, 204 and 202 are also shown with slots 100. These
terminating slots allow two boards, placed in an end-to end
relationship (where both boards are supported by the same
horizontal scaffold member), to have the adjoining top surfaces 40
located adjacent to each other with little or no gap between the
adjoining boards (not shown).
[0039] To assemble boards in a side-to-end configuration in an
existing scaffold frame structure, a first scaffold plank utilizing
the slotted openings is positioned in a scaffold structure,
supported on each of its terminating ends by opposing horizontal
scaffold members. A second scaffold plank (which may lack the
slotted openings 100, but has end clips 50) is positioned at 90
degrees to the first scaffold plank, with the clips at a first end
of the second board positioned above corresponding slots 100 of the
first scaffold board (i.e., those slots along the side edge of the
first board). The second scaffold board is lowered, so that the
clips at the first end of the second board partially pass through
the aligned slots or openings in the first board, until the first
end of the second scaffold board member is supported by the first
scaffold board. One end of the second board is now coupled to, and
supported by, the first board, without an intervening horizontal
member between the first and second board members. The clips on the
second end (the distal end) of the second board may be supported by
a another horizontal scaffold member, or supported by a third
scaffold board orientated 90 degrees to the second scaffold board,
with the third scaffold board having slots that align with the
clips at the second terminating end of the second scaffold
board.
[0040] While the illustrative forms disclosed herein have been
described with particularity, it will be understood that various
other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by
those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and
scope of the disclosure. For instance, the improved board may have
only a single side adapted with slots to support a board in a side
to end configuration. Accordingly, it is not intended that the
scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the example and
descriptions set forth herein, but rather that the claims be
construed as encompassing all the features of patentable novelty
which reside herein, including all features which would be treated
as equivalents thereof by those skilled in the art to which this
disclosure pertains.
[0041] When numerical lower limits and numerical upper limits are
listed herein, ranges from any lower limit to any upper limit are
contemplated.
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