Scaffolding system having improved safety structures and connecting members
OwnerAlbert A. Wolfeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for construction of scaffold structures having improved safety characteristics. In various embodiments, the apparatuses comprise a set of structures, including connecting rails, fencing, gates, and ladders. The structures are adapted to be used with locking-cup type scaffold designs. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a scaffold joint comprising a vertical post comprising first and second joint sections. At least one structural brace is disposed within the joint sections having a mounting flange disposed at an angle to the principal axis of the structural brace.
Claims16
A scaffold joint comprising:
- a vertical post having a lengthwise axis;
- a lower joint section, having an interior surface, disposed around the vertical post;
- an upper joint section, having an interior surface, disposed around the vertical post;
- and
- a first structural brace comprising:
- a center section having a lengthwise axis, a first end, and a second end;
- a first mounting flange rigidly attached to the first end, comprising a mounting surface having a center, an upper tab, and a lower tab;
- and
- a second mounting flange rigidly attached to the second end, comprising a mounting surface having a center, an upper tab, and a lower tab, and wherein a vector normal to the mounting surface at the center is disposed at an angle of between approximately 1 degree and approximately 89 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the center section;
- a second structural brace comprising:
- a center section having a lengthwise axis, a first end, and a second end;
- a first mounting flange rigidly attached to the first end, comprising a mounting surface having a center, an upper tab, and a lower tab;
- and
- a second mounting flange rigidly attached to the second end, comprising a mounting surface having a center, an upper tab, and a lower tab, and wherein a vector normal to the mounting surface at the center is disposed parallel to the lengthwise axis of the center section;
- wherein the lower tab of each of the second mounting flanges is disposed within the lower joint section, the upper tab of each of the second mounting flanges is disposed within the upper section, and the lengthwise axis of the first structural brace is disposed at an angle of between approximately 1 degree and approximately 89 degrees to the lengthwise axis of the second structural brace.
The scaffold joint of wherein the vector normals are disposed at an angle of approximately 15 degrees to the principal axis of the center section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.