Latch for scaffolding

A latch mechanism for use in coupling a horizontal platform to a selected vertical position on a supporting structure, the mechanism comprising:

• a frame member having a plurality of walls arranged to define an enclosed area,
• means for engaging the supporting structure to couple the frame member to the supporting structure, the engaging means being coupled to the frame member,
• means for locking the engaging means in engagement with the supporting member, the locking means being positioned in the enclosed area and coupled to the engaging means and movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, and
• means for blocking the locking means, the blocking means being coupled to the frame member and positioned outside of the enclosed area and movable between a blocking position to prevent movement of the locking means to the unlocking position and a releasing position to allow movement of the locking means to the unlocking position, the blocking means including aperture means for receiving the locking means.

A latch mechanism for use in coupling a platform to a supporting structure, the mechanism comprising:

• a frame member including a plurality of walls arranged to define an enclosed area,
• means for engaging the supporting structure to couple the frame member to the supporting structure, the engaging means being coupled to the frame member,
• means for locking the engaging means in engagement with the supporting member, the locking means being coupled to the engaging means, and
• means operated by gravitational forces for indicating that the locking means is in the locking position.

A latch mechanism for use in coupling a platform to a supporting structure, the mechanism comprising:

• a frame member including a plurality of walls arranged to define an enclosed area,
• means for engaging the supporting structure to couple the frame member to the supporting structure, the engaging means being coupled to the frame member,
• means for locking the engaging means in engagement with the supporting member, the locking means being coupled to the engaging means.
• means for indicating that the locking means is in the locking position, and
• wherein the engaging means includes a longitudinal axis and the plurality of walls includes first and second walls positioned in parallel spaced-apart relation to the longitudinal axis of the engaging means and a third wall extending between the first and second walls, the third wall forming an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the engaging means.

A latch mechanism for use in coupling a platform to a supporting structure, the mechanism comprising:

• a frame member including a plurality of walls arranged to define an enclosed area,
• means for engaging the supporting structure to couple the frame member to the supporting structure, the engaging means being coupled to the frame member,
• means for locking the engaging means in engagement with the supporting member, the locking means being coupled to the engaging means,
• means for indicating that the locking means is in the locking position, and
• wherein the indicating means is positioned outside the enclosed area.

In a scaffolding latching mechanism for coupling a horizontal platform framework to a vertically extending supporting structure, the latching mechanism including a latch pin having a threaded disk rigidly attached thereto and a threaded nipple rigidly attached to the platform framework, the latch pin being configured to extend through aligned apertures formed in the platform framework and the supporting structure to assure a locking position, the threaded disk being configured to threadedly engage the threaded nipple to lock the latch pin in the locking position, the improvement comprising:

• a plurality of walls arranged to define an enclosed area, the plurality of walls including first and second walls in parallel spaced-apart relation, the first and second walls including apertures for receiving the latch pin, the latch pin being positioned within the enclosed area so as to extend between the apertures in the first and second walls,
• a housing member attached to the first wall and positioned outside the enclosed area, the housing member and the first wall cooperating to define a cavity therebetween, the housing member including an aperture for receiving the latch pin, and
• a plate positioned in the cavity and including an elongated aperture and a solid portion, the plate being sized to move by gravity actuation from a latch pin-releasing position to a latch pin-blocking position.