Cable-panel connector for bridge platform or other scaffolding
AssigneePaul Kristen, Inc.
InventorsLambros Apostolopoulos, Paul Apostolopoulos, Davy E. Passucci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector for covering an opening in and connecting a scaffolding panel to an underlying cable. One plate has a portion pivotally attached to another plate for movement within a slot thereof, an arcuate portion to cradle the cable and extend back through a slot in the other plate for securing, and a neck therebetween which suspends the arcuate portion at a distance below the other plate to ease receiving the cable. The plates alternatively abut. Alternatively, the plates are hingedly joined with one having an arcuate cable-receiving portion which extends back through a slot in the other plate for securing with a wedge which is inseparable from the plates.
Claims16
A connector for connecting at least one panel to an underlying cable, the connector comprising a first part for at least partially overlying an opening in the at least one panel and further comprising a second part including an elongate first portion, said second part further including a generally arcuate second portion having a terminal end portion and sized and shaped for being positioned to extend from an end of said first portion away from said first part then toward said first part with said terminal end portion being receivable through a slot means in said first part whereby said second part can be manipulated to receive the underlying cable within said generally arcuate second portion and to then pass said terminal end portion through said slot means in said first part to define a closed position of the connector, a hinge pin pivotally attaching said elongate first portion intermediate a length thereof to said first part thereby defining a pivotal attachment thereof wherein, when said terminal end portion is in the closed position, said elongate first portion lies within said slot means in said first part thereby allowing rotation of the second part about the pivotal attachment between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation in a direction longitudinally of said first portion and defining an end section and a neck section of said elongate first portion on opposite sides respectively of the pivotal attachment such that each of said end and neck sections extends longitudinally of said elongate first portion on opposite sides respectively of the pivotal attachment of said elongate first portion of said second part to said first part whereby said second part can be pivoted about said hinge pin between first and second orientations with said first part overlying the panel, wherein in said first orientation of said second part, said end section extends in the longitudinal direction of said elongate first portion vertically above said first part and said neck section extends in the longitudinal direction of said elongate first portion vertically below said first part a distance which allows said arcuate second portion to be positioned a distance below said first part which is predetermined to be sufficient to allow ease of manipulation of said second part to receive the cable within said arcuate second portion, and wherein, in said second orientation of said second part, said elongate first portion extends horizontally within said slot means in said first part in the longitudinal direction of said elongate first portion with said neck section extending horizontally in the longitudinal direction of said elongate first portion in said slot means in said first part from said pivotal attachment when said second part is manipulated into said closed position to thereby draw said arcuate portion upwardly the predetermined distance to the panel.
A connector for connecting and disconnecting of a panel to and from a supporting cable, the connector consisting essentially of a plurality of parts all of which are inseparable and arranged to effect connecting and disconnecting of a panel to and from a supporting cable, and the connector includes a hinge pin attaching first and second ones of said inseparable parts, and wherein at least two of said inseparable parts are connectable and disconnectable for forming, without a nut, between said at least two inseparable parts alternately a latched state for latching one to an other of said at least two inseparable parts and for preventing unlatching thereof for connecting a panel to a supporting cable and an unlatched state for unlatching said one from said other of said at least two inseparable parts for disconnecting a panel from a supporting cable, wherein all of said plurality of parts are inseparable from each other in each of said latched and unlatched states, the connector further comprising a plurality of spaced grooves in a terminal end portion of said one of said at least two inseparable parts, and a wedge attached to one of said at least two inseparable parts and adapted to lockingly mate with each of said grooves.
A connector for connecting a panel to an underlying cable, the connector comprising a hinge pin and first and second members hingedly joined by said hinge pin and which are adapted to at least partially cover an opening in a panel, said first member is adapted to cradle a cable passing below the panel and has a free end portion which has a plurality of spaced grooves, an aperture in said second member for receiving said free end portion, and a wedge which is attached to said second member and which is adapted to engage each of said grooves whereby said wedge is engageable with one of said grooves for releasably retaining said free end portion in said second member aperture thereby defining alternately a latched state of said second member and said free end portion for latching said free end portion to said second member and an unlatched state of said second member and said free end portion for unlatching said free end portion from said second member, without use of a nut for latching, prevention of unlatching, or unlatching said free end portion to or from said second member, wherein said wedge is inseparable from said first and second hingedly joined members in each of said latched and unlatched states.
A connector for connecting and disconnecting of a panel to and from a supporting cable, the connector comprising a hinge pin, an elongate first plate for overlying an opening in the panel and having a slot means in said first plate, an elongate second plate oriented normal to said first plate and at least partially received in said slot means in said first plate and pivotally attached by said hinge pin to said first plate thereby defining a pivotal attachment of said second plate to said first plate, and said second plate having an aperture therein, wherein said hinge pin is attached to said first plate and extends over said slot means and through said aperture whereby said second plate is pivotable within said slot means about said hinge pin, said second plate having an arcuate portion shaped and sized to extend away from said first plate then toward said first plate and through said slot means in said first plate to receive a cable within said arcuate portion and define a closed position of the connector, and wherein said arcuate portion and said first plate are connectable in a manner to effect, without a nut, a latched state for latching said arcuate portion to said first plate in said closed position of the connector and for preventing unlatching thereof for connecting a panel to a supporting cable and an unlatched state for unlatching said arcuate portion from said first plate for disconnecting a panel from a supporting cable, wherein said first and second plates are inseparable in each of said latched and unlatched states.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.