Mobile scaffolding units with extendible gantry platform and methods of using same

A mobile scaffolding unit comprising a vehicle, and a scaffolding unit which is fixed to and carried by the vehicle, wherein the scaffolding unit comprises:

• a stationary platform;
• a gantry platform operatively connected to the stationary platform for movements between a retracted position where the gantry platform is nested adjacent to the stationary platform, and an extended position where a forward portion of the gantry platform extends outwardly from the stationary platform and a rearward portion of the gantry platform provides cantilever support for the forward portion thereof, and
• a guard rail assembly which bounds a perimeter of the stationary and gantry platforms when the gantry platform is in the extended position thereof, wherein
• weight applied to the forward portion of the gantry platform when in the extended position applies a bending movement to the rearward portion of the gantry platform thereby frictionally locking the position of the gantry platform against movement toward the retracted position thereof, and wherein
• the gantry platform is moveable between a first extended position where the gantry platform extends outwardly from one side of the stationary platform and a second extended position where the gantry platform extends outwardly from an opposite side of the stationary platform, and wherein
• the guard rail assembly comprises a gantry guard rail which is removably attached to the gantry platform, the gantry guard rail being removed when the gantry platform is in the first extended position thereof so as to allow the gantry platform to thereafter be moved from the first extended position to the second extended position thereof, the gantry guard rail being reattached to the gantry platform when in the second position as a mirror image of the gantry guard rail attached to the gantry platform when the gantry platform is in the first extended position thereof.

A mobile scaffolding unit comprising:

• a vehicle for movement across ground surface;
• a stationary platform rigidly fixed to the vehicle at a predetermined immovable height above the ground surface;
• and
• a gantry platform operatively connected to the stationary platform for movements between a retracted position where the gantry platform is nested adjacent to the stationary platform, and an extended position wherein the gantry platform extends laterally outwardly from one or another lateral side of the stationary platform to provide an operator on the gantry platform an extended horizontal reach laterally of the vehicle, wherein
• the gantry platform is moveable between a first extended position where the gantry platform extends outwardly from one side of the stationary platform and a second extended position where the gantry platform extends outwardly from an opposite side of the stationary platform, and wherein
• the gantry platform comprises a gantry guard rail which is removably attached to the gantry platform, the gantry guard rail being removed when the gantry platform is in the first extended position thereof so as to allow the gantry platform to thereafter be moved from the first extended position to the second extended position thereof, the gantry guard rail being reattached to the gantry platform when in the second position as a mirror image of the gantry guard rail attached to the gantry platform when the gantry platform is in the first extended position thereof.