The present invention pertains to a work platform system formed by connecting two work platforms together to move from one platform to the other without getting off either platform to do so. (As used herein, references to the “present invention” or “invention” relate to exemplary embodiments and not necessarily to every embodiment encompassed by the appended claims.) More specifically, the present invention pertains to a work platform system formed by connecting two work platforms together to move from one platform to the other without getting off either platform to do so where the work platforms are locked together with a sliding hook assembly.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention. The following discussion is intended to provide information to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that statements in the following discussion are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Scaffolds are commonly used to provide artisans with the ability to work across longer elevated spaces than they otherwise could on a ladder. In many instances, the longer the elevated work spaces the better for the artisans because they then do not have to climb down off the work platform to move the work platform to a new location to access a new elevated workspace in which they need to work. One way to provide a longer elevated workspace is to provide for individual longer work platforms. However, the larger the work platform becomes, the heavier it becomes and the more effort is needed to move the work platform when needed.
Another way to accomplish a longer elevated space is to connect two or more individual work platforms together to effectively double the elevated workspace that would otherwise be available for only one workspace. However, when combining to individual work platforms together, care must be taken they are securely and safely connected, as well as they can be quickly and easily connected together.
The present invention pertains to a work platform system. The system comprises a first work platform. The first work platform comprises a first scaffold having a first end and a second end and a plane upon which a user can stand. The first work platform comprises a first leg assembly rotatably attached with bolts to the first end of the first scaffold having a first rail and a second rail and a rung attached to the first rail and the second rail. The first leg assembly in a folded position relative to the first scaffold and essentially in parallel the plane of the first scaffold. The first work platform comprises a second leg assembly rotatably attached with bolts to the second end of the first scaffold, the second leg assembly in an open position relative to the first scaffold and essentially perpendicular to the plane of the first scaffold. The first work platform comprises a first hook assembly slidingly attached to the first scaffold adjacent the first end which slides between a use position where the first hook assembly extends below and outward beyond the first scaffold between the first rail and the second rail of the first leg assembly and a stowed position where the first hook assembly is retracted below the first scaffold. The first work platform comprises a first latch assembly attached to the first scaffold adjacent the second end.
The work platform system comprises a second work platform. The second work platform comprises a second scaffold having a first end and a second end and a plane upon which the user can stand which is flat without objects on which the user can trip. The second work platform comprises a third leg assembly rotatably attached with bolts to the first end of the second scaffold having a first rail and a second rail and a rung attached to the first rail and the second rail of the third leg assembly, the third leg assembly in a closed position relative to the second scaffold and essentially in parallel to the plane of the second scaffold when the second scaffold is attached to the first scaffold. The second work platform comprises a fourth leg assembly rotatably attached with bolts to the second end of the second scaffold, the second leg assembly of the second scaffold in an open position relative to the second scaffold and essentially perpendicular to the plane of the second scaffold. The second work platform comprises a second hook assembly slidingly attached to the second scaffold adjacent the second end of the second scaffold which slides between a use position where the second hook assembly extends below and outward beyond the second scaffold between the first rail and the second rail of the fourth leg assembly and a stowed position where the first hook assembly is retracted below the first scaffold. The second work platform comprises a second latch assembly attached to the second scaffold adjacent the first end of the second scaffold. The first work platform locked to the second work platform through the first hook assembly engaging with the second latch assembly and the first hook assembly in the use position.
The present invention pertains to a work platform. The work platform comprises a first scaffold having a first end and a second end and a plane upon which a user can stand. The work platform comprises a first leg assembly rotatably attached with bolts to the first end of the first scaffold having a first rail and a second rail and a rung attached to the first rail and the second rail, the first leg assembly in a folded position relative to the first scaffold and essentially in parallel the plane of the first scaffold. The work platform comprises a second leg assembly rotatably attached with bolts to the second end of the first scaffold, the second leg assembly in an open position relative to the first scaffold and essentially perpendicular to the plane of the first scaffold. The work platform comprises a first hook assembly slidingly attached to the first scaffold adjacent the first end which slides between a use position where the first hook assembly extends below and outward beyond the first scaffold between the first rail and the second rail of the first leg assembly and a stowed position where the first hook assembly is retracted below the first scaffold, the first hook assembly having a hook crossbar. The work platform comprises a first latch assembly having latch assembly recesses and hooks positioned about the recesses attached to the first scaffold adjacent the second end.
The present invention pertains to a method for using a work platform system. The method comprises the steps of sliding a first hook assembly attached adjacent to a first end of a first scaffold into a use position where the first hook assembly extends below and outward beyond the first scaffold between a first rail and a second rail of a first leg assembly rotatably attached adjacent to the first end of the first scaffold from a stowed position where the first hook assembly is retracted below the first scaffold. There is the step of placing a second latch assembly attached to a second scaffold adjacent a first end of the second scaffold on the first hook assembly in the use position. There is the step of pushing down on the second scaffold so the second latch assembly engages with the first hook assembly and locks the first work platform to the second work platform with the first scaffold coplanar with the second scaffold and forming a surface.
The present invention pertains to a method for producing a work platform. The method comprises the steps of attaching a track to an underside of a scaffold. There is the step of fitting a hook assembly to the track so the first hook assembly so the hook assembly slides along the track from a stowed position into a deployed position, where the first hook assembly extends below and outward beyond the first scaffold between a first rail and a second rail of a first leg assembly rotatably attached adjacent to the first end of the first scaffold, and when the first hook assembly is in a stowed position, the first hook assembly is retracted below the first scaffold. There is the step of attaching a latch assembly to the bottom of the scaffold.
In the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention and preferred methods of practicing the invention are illustrated in which:
In
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or identical parts throughout the several views, and more specifically to
The work platform system 10 comprises a second work platform 38. The second work platform 38 comprises a second scaffold 40 having a first end 16 and a second end 18 and a plane 20 upon which the user can stand which is flat without objects on which the user can trip. The second work platform 38 comprises a third leg assembly 42 rotatably attached with bolts 24 to the first end 16 of the second scaffold 40 having a first rail 26 and a second rail 28 and a rung 30 attached to the first rail 26 and the second rail 28 of the third leg assembly 42, the third leg assembly 42 in a closed position relative to the second scaffold 40 and essentially in parallel to the plane 20 of the second scaffold 40 when the second scaffold 40 is attached to the first scaffold 14. The second work platform 38 comprises a fourth leg assembly 44 rotatably attached with bolts 24 to the second end 18 of the second scaffold 40, the second leg assembly 32 of the second scaffold 40 in an open position relative to the second scaffold 40 and essentially perpendicular to the plane 20 of the second scaffold 40. The second work platform 38 comprises a second hook assembly 46 slidingly attached to the second scaffold 40 adjacent the second end 18 of the second scaffold 40 which slides between a use position where the second hook assembly 46 extends below and outward beyond the second scaffold 40 between the first rail 26 and the second rail 28 of the fourth leg assembly 44 and a stowed position where the first hook assembly 34 is retracted below the first scaffold 14. The second work platform 38 comprises a second latch assembly 48 attached to the second scaffold 40 adjacent the first end 16 of the second scaffold 40, the first work platform 12 locked to the second work platform 38 through the first hook assembly 34 engaging with the second latch assembly 48 and the first hook assembly 34 in the use position.
The second latch assembly 48 may have latch assembly hooks, as shown in
The first hook assembly 34 may have a first hook 56 and a second hook 58 in parallel and spaced relation with the first hook 56, as shown in
The system 10 may include a first projection 68 and a second projection 70 disposed adjacent the first end 16 of the second scaffold 40 and extending downward from the second scaffold 40, as shown in
The first scaffold 14 may have a first track 76, as shown in
The second latch assembly 48 may have a backing plate 92 which is attached to an underside of the second scaffold 40. The second latch assembly 48 may have a first bracket 94 with a first recess 51 of the recesses which extends perpendicularly downward from the backing plate 92, and a second bracket 96 with a second recess 52 of the recesses which extends perpendicularly downward from the backing plate 92 and in parallel and spaced relation with the first bracket 94. The hook crossbar 50 disposed in the first and second recesses 51, 52 when the first work platform 12 is locked to the second work platform 38.
The second latch assembly 48 may include a first latch assembly hook 98 of the latch assembly hooks, and a second latch assembly hook 100 of the latch assembly hooks. The first latch assembly hook 98 rotationally attached to the first bracket 94, and the second latch assembly hook 100 rotationally attached to the second bracket 96 such that as the first and second latch assembly hooks 98, 100 move down against the hook crossbar 50, the hook crossbar 50 cams open the first and second latch assembly hooks 98, 100 and moves into the first and second recesses 51, 52. As the hook crossbar 50 moves past the first and second latch assembly hooks 98, 100 and into the first and second recesses 51, 52 of the second work platform 38, the first and second latch assembly hooks 98, 100 of the second work platform 38 move back into the closed position under the action of the first and second springs 53, 54 of the second work platform 38 biasing the first and second latch assembly hooks 98, 100, respectively, of the second work platform 38 into the closed position which locks the hook crossbar 50 of the first work platform 12 into place in the first and second recesses 51, 52 of the second work platform 38.
As shown in
The present invention pertains to a first work platform 12. The first work platform 12 comprises a first scaffold 14 having a first end 16 and a second end 18 and a plane 20 upon which a user can stand. The first work platform 12 comprises a first leg assembly 22 rotatably attached with bolts 24 to the first end 16 of the first scaffold 14 having a first rail 26 and a second rail 28 and a rung 30 attached to the first rail 26 and the second rail 28. The first leg assembly 22 in a folded position relative to the first scaffold 14 and essentially in parallel the plane 20 of the first scaffold 14. The first work platform 12 comprises a second leg assembly 32 rotatably attached with bolts 24 to the second end 18 of the first scaffold 14, the second leg assembly 32 in an open position relative to the first scaffold 14 and essentially perpendicular to the plane 20 of the first scaffold 14. The first work platform 12 comprises a first hook assembly 34 slidingly attached to the first scaffold 14 adjacent the first end 16 which slides between a use position where the first hook assembly 34 extends below and outward beyond the first scaffold 14 between the first rail 26 and the second rail 28 of the first leg assembly 22 and a stowed position where the first hook assembly 34 is retracted below the first scaffold 14. The first work platform 12 comprises a first latch assembly 36 attached to the first scaffold 14 adjacent the second end 18. The first hook assembly 34 having a hook crossbar 50. The first work platform 12 comprises a first latch assembly 36 having latch assembly recesses 51, 52 and latch assembly hooks 98, 100 positioned about the recesses attached to the first scaffold 14 adjacent the second end 18.
The present invention pertains to a method for using a work platform system 10. The method comprises the steps of sliding a first hook assembly 34 attached adjacent to a first end 16 of a first scaffold 14 into a use position where the first hook assembly 34 extends below and outward beyond the first scaffold 14 between a first rail 26 and a second rail 28 of a first leg assembly 22 rotatably attached adjacent to the first end 16 of the first scaffold 14 from a stowed position where the first hook assembly 34 is retracted below the first scaffold 14. There is the step of placing a second latch assembly 48 attached to a second scaffold 40 adjacent a first end 16 of the second scaffold 40 on the first hook assembly 34 in the use position. There is the step of pushing down on the second scaffold 40 so the second latch assembly 48 engages with the first hook assembly 34 and locks the first work platform 12 to the second work platform 38 with the first scaffold 14 coplanar with the second scaffold 40 and forming a surface.
The present invention pertains to a method for producing a work platform. The method comprises the steps of attaching a track to an underside of a scaffold. There is the step of fitting a hook assembly to the track so the first hook assembly 34 so the hook assembly slides along the track from a stowed position into a deployed position, where the first hook assembly 34 extends below and outward beyond the first scaffold 14 between a first rail 26 and a second rail 28 of a first leg assembly 22 rotatably attached adjacent to the first end 16 of the first scaffold 14, and when the first hook assembly 34 is in a stowed position, the first hook assembly 34 is retracted below the first scaffold 14. There is the step of attaching a latch assembly to the bottom of the scaffold.
Additional work platforms may be added in series to the first and second work platforms 12, 38 in the same way as described above through each of their respective latch assemblies and hook assemblies.
Referring to
To separate the second work platform 38 from the first work platform 12, one or both of the latch levers are rotated downwards, causing the latch crank rod 102 attached to the latch lever and connected with the latch assembly hooks to retract the latch assembly hooks. With the latch assembly hooks retracted, the second work platform 38 is free to be lifted off of the hook assembly of the first work platform 12 and separated from the first work platform 12.
In
The projections seen in
In an alternative embodiment of the work platform,
In
The user merely presses the second work platform 38 down onto the hook crossbar 50 of the first hook assembly 34 of the first work platform 12. The second latch assembly 48 on the second work platform 38 automatically engages the first hook assembly 34 of the first work platform 12. This is a very easy procedure. An additional feature is the work platform of the system 10 provides a visual cue to let the user know that the two work platforms are properly connected, the projections 68, 70 seated in the notches 64, 66. By opening the latch assembly, the two work platforms are easily separated.
Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be described by the following claims.
This is a nonprovisional of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/155,722 filed March 2, 2021, incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63155722 | Mar 2021 | US |