US1653763A - Scaffold - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1927. 1,653,763

H. a. GAI-'PERS SCAFFOLD Filed ABZ. 18. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet? fil) Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

HERMAN B. GAFFERS, F WATEEVLIET, NEW YORK.

l scansioni).

Applicaticnfled August 18, 1924. S'erialNo. 732,868.

This invention relates to improvements in scaffolds ot the type in which are employed ladder sections with other parts and detachableconnecting means` adapted to be quickly assembledand taken dovvn.

.it serious objection to the use of present day scatiolds oi this type is the diiiici-ilty eX- perienced in obtaining rigid connections between the ladder sections through the rungs thereofA with other parts on account ot varia tion in theshape and size oi the ladder rungs due to unequal'shrinkage or' the Wood ofthe rungs, a condition commonly7 niet `with.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improv-ed scatlold ot the tlvpe relierred to, to provide improved connecting means between the ruiigs ot the ladder sections and other partsthat `while providing for the rapid and easy assembly ot the scatold will, at the saine time, aord a rifrid connection between the parts, andby which Lthe ditliculty reierredto isentirelyavoided.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, andthe particular construction, combinations and .arrangements of parts comprising' the sanie,u*ill be understood from the hereinafter contained detailed description, when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings, 'termine part hereof, `and illust-rating embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: l

Figure l is a perspective view of a section ot a scatlold constructed in accordance the line ldd Figure Figs. and 6 `are detail perspective vievs otinenibers of the connecting means.

Fig. i' is a detail side .elevation illustrating a iuodiiied torni ,ot `connecting means.

The invention .con'iprehends a `scatold including a. ladder section vand a rail.' brace,

'or other scaffold member associated `therewith, and provided with a connecting device having a yoke part to embrace a'rung of the ladder section and Which is formed` tapering or provided with a tapering socket and: is self adiusting to compensate for variation 1n the contour and size of the ladder rungs, due to unequal shrinkage .or other causesand will tightly` clasp vor Aclamp yWithin the `saine a lladder `rungand attorda filjin rigid connection bet-Ween the parts. The vention further contemplates a ,connecting device ot this kind havingan adjustable plate member .adapted to 4bridge thfefopen Vend of the yoke partand carrying aclanip screw to engage the ladderlrungs atone yside and assist in holding' thelsaiiie in `tight fittinc enoaoement with the .yokepait i e. n i1 llfhile specific embodiments `of tlieinvew tion are illustrated in the drawings, it will or course be understood that changes and yvariations in `'the particular constructions shown, andthe carrying out oftheinvention in other forms,a.sfivill appeal to those skilled in the art and falling' vWithin lthe scope ot the appended claims'inay be practiced lWithout `departinp` ltroni the fspirit ,ot theiinvention. Y v i f i The section of scatl'olding illustrated rin the drawings vrby vvay ot eXaniplecomprises vertical ladderl sections `A-'A an Ainterinodiate rail member }B,aiid inclinedstriitsor braces 0*(3, the rail .member 4Band the f integral and conveniently, as shown, ,being ,1n the form yof@ casting The reke-raft 2 is provided with .oppositely inclined :inner side faces 2a, @converging toivard the clesed end `2C thereoi` providing@ tapering interior formation or socketividest at .the open .end

of the yoke, the constriiction being V.self ad.

justing` to compensate iior `v ariations1 andfirregularities `respecting the ,contour or size of tliegladder rung, tightly clasping thepladder 4rungs when :engaged therewith arid-always insuring Ia .fir-in rigid .connection between the parts `Z3 designates a plate meme ber :adjustable longitudinally of rthe plate portion l adapted to bef-positioned .Withits forward part 3a bridging` the openjend of the voke 2 or retractedto oneside ofthe yoke, said` plate member 3 lat its gfQIWald part lll carrying' a `clamp screw fl adapted to bear against one side ot a ladder rune engaged by the yoke and to .torce and hold the parts in tight fitting ,engatenu-mt. The clamp screw el extends transversely oit the ttor "ard part 8a of the plate member 3, engaging' a threaded opening therein, this portion ot the plate member 3 being shown thickened and provided with a recess 3" at its under vside to receive the head Lit of the clamp screw Ll. when the same is adj usted to its innermost position. The plate member 3 has a reduced outer end portion 3 to lit within a seat on the yoke' 2 formed by anopening 5 in one sido of the yoke when the plate member 3 is adjusted to extend across theopen end of the yokeY provision thus being made Jor tirmly holding' the forward portion olf the plate member to the yoke against outward displacement when the clamp screw et is tightened up against a ladder rune' within the yoke.

The plate portion '1 is provided at one side with a longitudinally extending boss o1' raised part and an elongated slot (i extending through the plate portion and boss. The plate member 3 is slotted at 3c, as showiny t0 lit over and slidably engage the boss. The boss has a rear portion'T of less thickness than the forward part 7' thereof, and the plate member 55 is of a thickness less than the thickness of the forward portion `7 ot the bossand `ogreater than the thickness of the rear portion 7 of the boss. The means for securing the'connectinp; device to the intermediate rail member B, braces C, or

other scaliolding members, comprises a pairV of bolts 8, 9, extending through the scaffolding member and the elongated slot 6 of the plate portion 1. The bolts 8, 9, are spaced as shown, at opposite ends of the slot G, the bolt 8' extending' adjacent the forward part. 'a of the boss, and the bolt 9 being located adjacent the reduced rear portion 7 of the boss. 8 designates a nut on the bolt 8 to remain tightly turned up to clamp the plato port ion l to the scaffolding meunier, a washer 10 being' shown `interposed between the nut, 8 and the thicker portion T ot the boss, the washer being shown oi' a size to project over but tree of the side portions ot the plato member 3. The plate member' 3 is adjustably secured to the plate portion 1 by `means of a winged clamping nut 11 and washer 12, the winged nut 11 when tightened up clamping'the plate member 3, through the washer 12, against the upper :tace of the plate portion l. As will be understood by loosening the winged nut 11 the plate member 3 will be free for sliding movement on the plate por tion 1 and may he adjusted as desired to bridge the open end of the yoke or adjusted Y to a position to one side thereof.

In many instances in which the arrange-l l nient 40f' the intermediateconnecticut rails.,

braees,or other scaffolding members which are provided with the connecting devices is such that the wcightor lorces tend to force the yoke into engagement with the ladder rune'. the clamj'iingg'` screw ,is not essential, and the invention crnnprehends constructions in which the clamp screw is not en'lployed, such a modilied construction being illustrated in Figure 7 ot the drawings, the construction illustrated in this 4View beine' tho same as that shown in Figures l to (3 o'l the d 'a.wings, except that the same does not have a clamp screw carried by the adjustable plate member. `In Figure 7, illustrating' the modified construction, la designates an interme diate rail member to which is secured by screws 15, 1G, the connecting device compri ing the plate portion 17, yoke 18, and adj instable plate member 19, the latter in this instance simply acting; as a guard.

lt will be noted that by the jiarticular con struction and arrangement ot parts heroinbe'liore set Forth connecting' means oit a siniple etlicient nature is afforded capable ot being quickly engaged with aud detached from the ladder rangs, providingr for the rapid assembling' and taking down ot the scaffolding', and at the same time thc construction is such as to always insure rigid connections between the parts, the device lieing: self adjusting' or readily accommfr dating itself to variations or irregularities in the ladder rangs so that such variations or imperfections do not etlcct the rigidity of the scaffolding.

What I claim is:

1. A scaffold including a ladder sectioin` a rail member associated therewith. and conncctingr means on the rail member including a plate portion to fit against a face ot the rail member with a yoke at one end ot the plate portion to tightly eniln'afm a rune' ot the ladder section, said yoke inning oppositely inclined inner sidciaces converging toward the closed end thereof. and said yoke at one. sido having a. seat loi-ated inwardly oi the outer end ot' the sido ol' the volto and extending inwardly o'l` the sido olf the yoke, a plate member i'iuaunled on said plate portion 'l'or adjustment longitudinally therer'il and adapted to be positioned lo lnfidn'c the open end ol the yoke with one end extend ing into the said seat on the yoke, a clamp screw carried by and extending transversely `through the plate member near one end thereof to engage andtightly hold a runcf ot the ladder section in engagement with the inclined inner side faces ol the yoke, means 'l'or securing the plate portion to the rail member, and means ttor adjustably `se curing' the plate member to the plate portion.

Q. A sca'ft'old including a ladder section, a rail membe' associated therewith, connecting means on the rail, member inabidingr a lli() lll') `plate portion to fit again-sta face vof the rail ineinber, and a yoke at one end of the plate portion to embrace a rung of the ladder section, said plate portion having a longitudinally extending boss at one side and being provided with a slot extending through the saine and the boss, a plate ineinber adapted to bridge the open end of the yoke, the plate inernber being provided `.vith

a longitudinal slot to fitover said boss and being slidable on said plate portion, said boss having a portion thereof of greater thiek-Y nes-s than the plate member and projecting above the outer face thereof, and the boss 3. A scaifold `including a ladder section, a rail ineniber assoeiatedtherewith, and oonnecting means on the rail ineinber including a plate portion fitting against a face of the rail inenibei: and having a Ueshaped yoke at one end thereof adapted to tightly elainp a rung of the ladder section between the side walls thereof, said yoke having` straight inn-er side Wallsv of susbtantial length extending from the outer end thereof to its bottoni part at a substantial inclination toward each other and converging toward the boitoin part of the yoke, and the space between the said inclined side Walls relative to the diameter of the rung of the ladder section being such as to compensate for variations in the cross sectional size of the rung of the ladder seoiion so that when the voke is engaged with the rung under preesure, the rung will be spaced froni the inner bottoni part of the yoke and held wedged between the inclined side Walls thereof to provide a rigid connection between the parts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix iny si gn ature.

HERMAN B. GAFFERS.

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