Adjustable scaffolding and lift carriage and support member therefor

A support apparatus comprising:

• an elongated, rigid support member having a base end, an upper end and a longitudinal axis and being supported at said base end, said support member further including first and second spaced support posts and a plurality of support braces extending between said first and second support posts along said longitudinal axis;
• said support braces defining a plurality of first support surfaces spaced along said support member in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
• a carriage moveable along said support member in said longitudinal direction, said carriage including;
• a pair of spaced, rotatable members which are rotatable on first and second axes generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;
• an endless band extending between and around said spaced rotatable members;
• a generally tubular support housing comprising is in an elongated housing support wall extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said support wall having first and second sides and having a pair of band openings spaced in the direction of said longitudinal axis, said support housing further comprising a pair of housing sidewalls connected with said housing support wall and extending outwardly from said first side, said rotatable members being positioned relative to said support wall such that said first and second axes are positioned on said first of said support wall, said rotatable members are rotatably supported between said pair of housing sidewalls, said band extends through said pair of band openings and a portion of said band extending between said rotatable members is positioned on said second side of said support wall,
• at least one roller member supported by said tubular support housing and engageable in rolling engagement with said support member during movement of said carriage along said support member, and
• a plurality of lift members connected with endless band, said lift members being spaced along said band and each of said lift members having a second support surface engageable with said first support surfaces to support said carriage relative to said support member.

An adjustable scaffolding assembly comprising:

• a plurality of elongated, rigid support members having a bottom end, a top end and a longitudinal axis, and being supported near said bottom end;
• a plurality of first support surfaces spaced along said support members in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
• a carriage associated with and moveable along each of said support members in said longitudinal direction, each said carriage including:
• a pair of spaced, rotatable members;
• an endless band extending between and around said spaced rotatable members;
• a plurality of lift members connected with said endless band, said lift members being spaced along said band and each of said lift members project outwardly of said band and have a second support surface engageable with said first support surfaces to support said carriage relative to said support member, the distance between adjacent first support surfaces in the direction of said longitudinal axis defining a first spacing and the distance between the second surfaces of adjacent lift members along said band defining a second spacing and wherein said first spacing is greater than said second spacing and
• a platform support.

A lift assembly comprising:

• an elongated, rigid support member having a longitudinal axis;
• a plurality of first support surfaces spaced along said support member in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
• a carriage moveable along said support member in said longitudinal direction;
• said carriage including:
• a pair of spaced, rotatable members;
• an endless band extending between and around said spaced rotatable members, and
• a plurality of lift members connected with said endless band, said lift members being spaced along said band and each of said lift members project outwardly from said band and have a second support surface engageable with said first support surfaces to support said carriage relative to said support member, wherein the distance between adjacent first support surfaces in the direction of said longitudinal axis is a first spacing and the distance between the second support surfaces of adjacent lift members along said band is a second spacing and wherein said first spacing is greater than said second spacing.