STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND
Technical Field: The disclosure relates to the use of platform board, baker board or diving board assemblies for work on utility poles, towers, and other equipment.
Platform board assemblies are often used for linemen to access utility poles for repair or routine maintenance work. The usual working distance above the ground on the utility pole can be potentially dangerous should the connection between the platform assembly and the utility pole weaken or fail for any reason. Conventional platform board assemblies may use metal chains on steel utility poles which may slip or have poor connection, and fails to ensure that the platform board assembly stays at a desired point on the utility pole thus resulting in dangerous hazard for workers on the platform. Therefore a need exists for a platform board assembly which improves the attachment between the platform board assembly and the utility pole, and thus the safety of using platform board assemblies on utility poles.
SUMMARY
The disclosure relates to a platform board assembly for linework on a utility pole, wherein the platform board assembly defines a front, a rear, and two sides and having: a plank having a free end towards the front and a fixed end towards the rear; a T-plate having a bottom extension and a top extension, wherein the bottom extension of the T-plate is connected to the fixed end of the plank; a vertical support member wherein the vertical support member is connected to the top extension of the T-plate; at least one ratchet stop mounted on a first side of the platform board assembly, wherein the ratchet stop is includes: a spool; a ratchet wheel rotatable about the spool; and a pawl configured to engage and disengage with the ratchet wheel; and a flexible connector engaged with the spool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The exemplary embodiments may be better understood, and numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. These drawings are used to illustrate only exemplary embodiments, and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective exemplary embodiments. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a platform board assembly.
FIG. 1A depicts a partial cross sectional view along line 1A-1A of FIG. 1.
FIG. 1B depicts a partial cross sectional view along line 1B-1B of FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 depicts a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the platform board assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the platform board and the T-plate of the platform board assembly.
FIG. 4 depicts a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the platform board and the T-plate of the platform board assembly of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 depicts a partial side view of an exemplary embodiment of a platform board assembly as installed on a pole.
FIG. 6 depicts a partial top view of an exemplary embodiment of a platform board assembly as installed on a pole.
FIG. 7 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a platform board assembly as installed on a pole.
FIG. 8 depicts a partial side view of the exemplary embodiment of the platform board assembly on a pole of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 depicts an isometric view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a platform board assembly as installed on a pole.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)
The description that follows includes exemplary apparatus, methods, techniques, and instruction sequences that embody techniques of the inventive subject matter. However, it is understood that the described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.
FIGS. 1-2 depict side and top views of an exemplary embodiment of a cantilever platform board assembly 10. FIGS. 5-8 depict partial side, partial top and isometric views of the exemplary embodiment of the cantilever platform board assembly 10 as installed or mounted onto a pole or tower 60, which may be a pre-existing utility pole or tower 60 made of wood, steel, or other metals or materials and existing in various cross-sectional geometries (e.g. round, square, octagonal, etc.) as known by one of ordinary skill in the art. The platform board assembly or plank assembly 10 may include a plank, platform, scaffold or board 20; at least two T-plates or three-way extension support members 30; a plurality of ratchet stops or ratchet tie down winches 40; an I-beam, vertical structure or vertical support member 50; and a plurality of nylon straps 12. The platform board assembly 10 may further define a front end 17, a rear end 18 and at least two sides 19. One or more components of the platform board assembly 10 may be constructed out of material 16 which may be, by way of example only, lightweight aluminum. Such components which may be constructed of lightweight aluminum may include by way of example only, the plank 20, the T-plates 30, the ratchet stops 40, and/or the I-beam support member 50.
The plank, platform, scaffold, or board 20 allows a human operator to stand and walk along the length of the plank 20 to perform operations or procedures as needed on the utility pole 60. Referring further to FIGS. 3 and 4, the plank 20 may include two longitudinal support members or channels 24 along the length of the plank 20, and two parallel lateral support members 26 which connect the two parallel longitudinal support members 24 to form a supporting rectangular frame or base 27 of the plank 20. The plank 20 may include a grate or grating 21 within the frame 27 defined by the frame support members 26, 24 (see e.g. FIG. 2). Although the grating 21 in FIG. 2 is only depicted in select portions of the frame 27, it is to be appreciated that the grating 21 may fill the entirety of said frame 27. Additionally, the longitudinal frame members 24 may define a plurality of openings 22 into which a plurality of bolts 23 may be inserted. The openings 22 may each be connected to a tube 25 within the frame 27 of the plank 20 and beneath the grate 21. Bolts 23 may be inserted into each of the openings 22 and through the tubes 25. In certain exemplary embodiments, the bolts 23 may be eyebolts having a defined opening, ring, hole, or eye 23a on at least one end of the bolt 23. The bolts or eyebolts 23 may allow for ease of transport of the platform assembly 10 (by way of example, the eyebolts 23 may allow for multiple points of attachment for chained hooks, cables and/or bridles to lift and maneuver an assembled platform board assembly 10 via a helicopter), and also may be a place or point of engagement for human operators to safely and securely keep/store tools or machinery when not in use, or to engage a safety lanyard. The plank or platform 20 further includes a free end 28 and a fixed end 29, wherein the fixed end 29 is attached to the T-plate 30 and the I-beam 50.
Referring to at least FIGS. 1 and 3, the T-plate 30 may be a three-way extension plate having a bottom extension, leg, or web 32 and a top part, or flange 31. The platform board assembly 10 may include, by way of example two T-plates 30, one on each side 19 of the platform board assembly 10, wherein each T-plate 30 is secured to one of the longitudinal frame support members 24 of the plank 20 near the fixed end 29 and wherein each T-plate 30 is also secured to a portion of the I-beam 50. The bottom extension 32 of T-plate 30 may be secured, mounted, or attached to the corresponding longitudinal frame support member 24 via fasteners 14 as inserted into or engaged with openings 13. Such fasteners 14 may further include bolts or eyebolts 23 as inserted into openings 22, ratchet stop bolts 44 as inserted into openings 15, and any other fasteners 14 as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The top part, or top flange 31 of the T-plate 30 may be perpendicular to the bottom extension 32, wherein the bottom extension 32 may intersect or bisect the top part 31. The top part or flange 31 may further define an upper top extension 31a and a lower top extension 31b, wherein the upper extension 31a is above the intersection of the web 32 and the flange 31, and the lower extension 31b is below the intersection of same. The top extensions 31a, 31b are similarly secured, mounted to, or attached to the corresponding flange 51 of the I-beam 50 via fasteners 14 as inserted to or engaged with openings 13. The fasteners 14 may include ratchet stop bolts 44 as inserted openings 15 and any other fasteners 14 as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Although the T-plate 30 is depicted in the FIGS. 1-8 as a three-way extension plate, it is to be appreciated that other alternative exemplary embodiments of this coupling or connecting member 30 are possible, including, by way of example, wherein the coupling or connecting member 30 is a rectangular bar, a rectangular plate, a combination of plates and fasteners, or any other combination of coupling/connecting/support members capable of providing the necessary connection, strength reinforcement/reinforcing, and support between the plank 20 and the I-beam 50. Other embodiments of the coupling member 30 as known to one of ordinary skill in the art is considered within the scope of the disclosure.
The I-beam 50 is a vertical support member which extends along a partial length of the pole 60. Referring at least to FIGS. 2, and 5-8, the I-beam 50 includes two parallel plates or flanges 51 set a distance apart from each other and as connected by a web or middle plate, part or partition 52. The I-beam 50 may have a front portion 53 which is proximate to the plank 20 and a rear portion 54 which is proximate the pole 60 when installed (see e.g. FIGS. 1 and 5-8). The front portion 53 may be defined by the interior surfaces of the flanges 51 and interior surface of the web 52 nearest to the plank 20; and the rear portion 54 may be defined by the interior surfaces of the flanges 51 and interior surface of the web 52 to be installed proximate, adjacent to, or surrounding a portion of the pole 60 (see e.g. FIGS. 5-8). The top part 31 of each T-plate 30 may be attached to a flange 51 of the I-beam 50, as described in earlier paragraphs. The I-beam 50 may also be further connected to the plank 20 via at least two supporting bars or supporting members 11 (see e.g. FIGS. 1, 1B & 2), wherein each side 19 of the platform board assembly 10 includes one supporting bar 11. Each supporting bar 11 may be secured at a first end to a longitudinal frame support member 24 of the plank 20 via a bolt or eyebolt 23 and further, each supporting bar 11 may be secured at a second end to a flange 51 of the I-beam 50 via a fastener 14. The supporting bars 11 may be mounted at an angle to the plank 20 (e.g. the supporting bars 11 connect and brace the plank 20 to the I-beam 50 at an angle diagonal to the plank 20 and the I-beam 50). The supporting bar 11 may be secured to the I-beam 50 near or proximate the top of the height of the I-beam 50, above the T-plate or three-way extension plate 30. Or, this may be inverted in all embodiments with the supporting bar 11 secured to the I-beam 50 below the plank 20 (see FIG. 9).
The platform board assembly 10 includes a plurality of ratchet stops or ratchet tie-down winches 40. As depicted in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, there are eight total ratchet stops 40, having four ratchet stops 40 on each side of the platform assembly 10. However, other quantities, including greater or fewer, ratchet stops 40 are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The plurality of ratchet stops 40 are positioned or arranged so that each ratchet stop 40 on a first side 19 of the platform board assembly 10 is paired with another ratchet stop 40 positioned at a similar height on the second or opposite side 19 of the platform assembly 10. As describing a first side 19 of the platform board assembly 10 as depicted in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, there may be at least one ratchet stop 40 mounted along the bottom portion 32 of the three-way extension 30 and as connected to the plank 20; at least one ratchet stop 40 along a first extension 31a of the top portion 31 of the three-way extension 30, and located vertically above the plank or scaffold 20; at least one ratchet stop 40 along a second extension 31b of the top portion 31 of the three-way extension 30, and located vertically below the plank or scaffold 20; and at least one ratchet stop 40 on the I-beam 50, located vertically above the top portion 31 of the three-way extension 30. The second side 19 of the platform board assembly 10 may have a substantially mirrored arrangement of the ratchet stops 40 on the first side 19 of the platform board assembly 10. Each pair of ratchet stops 40 may be connected by a length of nylon strap, synthetic strap, or other flexible connector 12 (see e.g. FIGS. 5-8).
The ratchet stops 40 may be commercially available products, such as, by way of example, ratchet tie-down winches sold under the brand name McMASTER-CARR®. The ratchet stops or ratchet tie-down winches 40 may each include a housing 41, at least one ratchet 45, a spool 45a, a nut 45b, and a pawl 46. The housing 41 may be a substantially open bracket having a top surface 47, a bottom surface 48, and a mounting surface 42 which connects the top surface 47 and bottom surface 48 and further defines mounting surface openings 43. The mounting surface 42 may be mounted adjacent to the T-plate 30 or I-beam 50. Further, the mounting surface openings 43 of the housing 41 may align with openings 15 as defined on the T-plate 30, I-beam 50, and plank 20. The fasteners or bolts 44 as inserted and engaged with the mounting surface openings 43 and openings 15 (as defined on the T-plate 30, I-beam 50, and plank 20) may secure and attach the ratchet housing 41 to the T-plate 30, I-beam 50 and/or plank 20.
The slotted spool or slotted axle 45a of ratchet stop 40 extends through the top surface 47 and bottom surface 48 of the housing 41. The ratchet stop 40 may include at least two ratchet plates, ratchet wheels or ratchet wheel plates 45, one on each of the top surface 47 and the bottom surface 48 at the exterior of the housing 41. The slotted spool 45a is connected to each ratchet plate 45 and is the axis of rotation for the ratchet plate 45. A pawl bar 46 may be connected to both ratchet plates 45 and serves to enable movement of the ratchet plates 45 and spool 45a in a first direction and to releasably prevent the movement of the ratchet plates 45 in a second direction. The pawl bar 46 may include two pawls, one pawl each pivotably mounted on each of the top surface 47 and the bottom surface 48, wherein each pawl is connected to the other pawl via a bar, and further wherein each pawl is configured to engage and disengage with the corresponding ratchet plate 45 on the top surface 47 and the bottom surface 48. A length of flexible connector, webbing, synthetic strap, or nylon strap 12 may be inserted into the slot 45c of the slotted spool 45a and also wound around the spool 45a as desired (by way of example, any excess or unused length of the nylon strap 12 may be wound or wrapped around the spool 45a). A nut or hex nut 45b as mounted on top of one of the ratchet plates 45, enables a human operator to manipulate or rotate the ratchet 45 in a first direction (i.e. to tighten the nylon strap 12), and also enables the human operator to manipulate or rotate the ratchet 45 in a second direction when the pawl bar 46 is disengaged from the ratchet 45 (i.e. to loosen the nylon strap 12). The nut or hex nut 45b may be located on the top surface 47 of the ratchet stops 40 or may be located on bottom surface 48 of the ratchet stops 40. In certain exemplary embodiments, the nuts 45b for each ratchet stop 40 on a first side 19 of the platform board assembly 10 may be located on the top surfaces 47, and the nuts 45b for each ratchet stop 40 on the second side 19 of the platform board assembly 10 may be located on the bottom surfaces 48. Other means of enabling movement of the ratchet 45 as known to one of ordinary skill in the art (such as, by way of example, other handles or levers) is considered within the scope of the disclosure. Any loosening of the nylon strap 12 is prevented by the pawl bar 46 until the pawl bar 46 is engaged, pressed, or released. When the pawl bar 46 is engaged, the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet teeth, and the ratchet plate 45 is allowed to move freely in both the first direction and the second direction as desired (e.g. the nylon strap, nylon tie or flexible connector 12 may be freely tightened or loosened). Nylon straps 12 may be the preferred type of connector as the nylon material possesses the appropriate flexibility, frictional, gripping and strength characteristics to securely engage, support and maintain the connection between the pole 60 and the platform board assembly 10 in a variety of different and changing weather conditions. The straps 12 may contact the steel pole 60 to provide or secure vertical support against the steel pole 60. By way of example only, extreme heat conditions may cause other connectors, such as steel chains which may already have low friction or connection between the steel or metal pole, to slide or slip against steel/metal poles 60 despite best initial efforts from operators to securely engage the pole with said steel chains.
The platform board assembly 10 may be installed on any kind of utility pole 60, including and not to be limited to steel poles, other metal poles, and wooden poles. Further, the platform board assembly 10 may be used for many different kinds of above-ground worksites beyond poles 60, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The outer surface of the pole 60 may be substantially circular or round (see e.gs. FIG. 5-6), or may include angled surfaces (see e.g. FIGS. 7-8, wherein pole 60 has a polygonal or hexagonal outer surface). When installed on a pole 60, the partially bounded rear portion 54 of the I-beam 50 (as defined by the flanges 51 and web 52) may be directly adjacent to or contact a portion of the pole 60. In particular, the flange 51 and web 52 may allow a portion of the pole 60 to rest, sit, contact, or set within the defined opening or boundary of the rear portion 54. In certain exemplary embodiments, such as is depicted in FIGS. 7-8, both the interior surfaces of the flanges 51 of the I-beam 50 may be parallel and directly adjacent or in abutment to a flat (or curved) outer surface of the pole 60. In certain embodiments the I-beam 50 and the flanges 51 can be sized for correlating abutment or contiguous mounting to the corresponding pole 60 to be mounted with each of the flanges 51 overlapping or contiguous/touching with two symmetrically opposed points of a pole 60 and a center point of the I-beam touching the pole 60 (i.e. three points of attachment or abutment to the pole 60).
A plurality of nylon straps or flexible connectors 12 are installed on the platform board assembly 10 via the ratchet stops 40, and wherein the nylon straps 12 surround, engage and connect the pole 60 towards the rear or back of the platform board assembly 10. The flexible connectors or nylon straps 12 may be commercially available products, such as, by way of example, winch straps or webbing sold under the brand name WEARGARD™ by SPANSET®. Each nylon strap 12 is engaged with a pair of ratchet stops 40, wherein the first ratchet stop 40 of the pair is located on a first side of the platform board assembly 10 and is engaged with a first point or end of the nylon strap 12; and wherein the second ratchet stop 40 of the pair is located on a second side of the platform board assembly 10 and is engaged with a second point or end of the nylon strap 12. Although the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 5-8 are depicted as having four nylon straps 12, with one nylon strap 12 per pair of ratchet stops 40, any combination and number of greater or fewer nylon straps 12 are considered within the scope of the embodiment. Additionally, there may poles 60 having certain geometries or obstacles where fewer than all ratchet stop 40 pairs are be used to secure the platform board assembly 10 to the pole 60. By way of example only, in an exemplary embodiment of the platform board assembly 10 having four pairs of ratchet stops 40 with four nylon straps 12, only three pairs of the ratchet stops 40 and three nylon straps 12 may be used to engage a certain pole 60. Furthermore, in alternative exemplary embodiments, the nylon strap 12 may be engaged with a ratchet stop 40 only at the first side of the platform board assembly 10, and the second end of the nylon strap 12 may be otherwise engaged or fastened with a fixture or fastener on the second side of the platform board assembly 10. The nylon straps 12 surround a portion of the exterior/outer surface or perimeter of the pole 60 and can be adjusted with at least one of the ratchets 45 of the pair of ratchet stops 40 to which the strap 12 is engaged, to connect or join the pole 60 more tightly and securely with the I-beam 50. The ends of the nylon straps 12 may be unsecured or free depending on the adjustment of the ratchet stops 40, pole 60, and nylon straps 12 (see e.g. FIGS. 7-8). The nylon straps 12 can also be loosened or slackened with at least one of the pawl bars 46 of the pair of ratchet stops 40 to which the strap 12 is engaged, as needed.
FIG. 9 depicts an isometric view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a platform board assembly 10 as installed on a pole 60. In the exemplary embodiment of the platform board assembly 10 as depicted in FIG. 9, the supporting bars 11 may be secured to the I-beam 50 near or proximate a bottom of the height of the I-beam 50 and secured at the other end of the supporting bar 11 to plank 20. The alternative exemplary embodiment includes at least one rail or stability guide 70 installed above the plank 20. The rail guide or guide rail 70 runs longitudinally parallel to the plank 20 and preferably centered above the plank 20. The rail guide 70 is supported by a number of side posts or poles 71 on either side of the rail guide 70, and a rear post or pole 72, wherein each of the first end of the posts 71,72 is connected to the rail guide 70, and each of the second end of the posts 71,72 is connected to the plank 20. The posts 71,72 may be installed at an angle to the plank 20 and the rail guide 70. The side posts 71 may be mounted in pairs or sets on either side of the rail guide 70. The rail guide 70 may be utilized by an operator to stabilize their balance while working on the platform board assembly 10 and increases the safety of the platform board assembly 10. The worker or operator may anchor, for example, via a safety harness to the guide rail 70. Further, the I-beam support member 50 may have cross support ribs (not shown) to add strength to the I-beam support member 50.
While the embodiments are described with reference to various implementations and exploitations, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the inventive subject matter is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible.
Plural instances may be provided for components, operations or structures described herein as a single instance. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter.
Patent Application
20220018142
