STABILIZER POSTS FOR SCAFFOLD HOIST

Abstract

This invention relates to a stabilizer post for a scaffold hoist comprising a post extending from an upper end to a lower end, an L-shaped upper angle insert comprising an upper contact plate extending down to a substantially perpendicular upper insert plate, an L-shaped lower angle insert comprising a lower contact plate extending up to a substantially perpendicular lower insert plate, and wherein the upper angle insert is attached adjacent to the upper end of the post so that the upper insert plate is below the upper insert plate and substantially perpendicular to the post and the lower angle insert is attached at the lower end of the post so that the lower insert plate above the lower contact plate and substantially perpendicular to the post, and the lower contact plate and the upper insert plate are substantially parallel to one another. The stabilizer post is attached to a wall by inserting the lower insert plate into a lower wall cut, inserting the upper insert plate into an upper wall cut, and attaching the lower insert plate to the bottom plate and the upper insert plate to the top plate.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to scaffolds, and more particularly to stabilizer posts for scaffold hoists.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Scaffolds are generally used to provide a platform to stand or sit on when working above ground level. Scaffolds can allow workers to reach parts of buildings requiring work at levels above reach, or above comfortable reach, for workers and to cover more area than can be reached by a worker on a stationary ladder. Scaffolds are temporary and need to be assembled and disassembled, while being sturdy enough to work on safely. Canadian Patent No. 2,450,273 entitled “A Dismantable Scaffold” provides a system in which horizontal and vertical poles are joined utilizing perforated anchor plates with connecting railing elements and railing adapter elements, for assembly and disassembly.

Scaffolds can consist of multiple connected structural support units with platforms comprised of planks whereby workers can move horizontally along, for example, to move along the upper portion of a wall as work is completed. A platform comprised of planks can be moved by moving the planks to an adjacent section and thereby allow the worker to keep moving along horizontally and utilize fewer planks overall. Canadian Patent Application No. 2,372,748 entitled “A Scaffold with Vertical Supports and Horizontal Carriers” describes a guide system with hooks on the ends of planks to allow a deck formed by the planks to be moved without having to lift each plank, given that such planks can be heavy and unwieldy.

In different jurisdictions there are varying safety requirements regarding scaffolds. It is crucial for a construction worker to be able to work at necessary heights, but not be in danger of falling off of a scaffold. In Canadian Patent Application No. 2,534,444 entitled “Scaffold Safety Apparatus”, an existing scaffold system is made safer for a construction worker through an apparatus which has a safety loop that runs along a vertical rail as the worker moves horizontally along the scaffold.

In Canadian Patent Application 2,929,064 filed May 5, 2016, titled “Scaffold Hoist”, describes a scaffold hoist in which further stability is provided with horizontal bars attached to vertical studs of a wall. What is needed is a way to stabilize a scaffold hoist without additionally attaching set bars to a wall and for use on a wall without exposed wall studs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stabilizer post for a scaffold hoist comprising a post extending from an upper end to a lower end, an L-shaped upper angle insert comprising an upper contact plate extending down to a substantially perpendicular upper insert plate, an L-shaped lower angle insert comprising a lower contact plate extending up to a substantially perpendicular lower insert plate, and wherein the upper angle insert is attached adjacent to the upper end of the post so that the upper insert plate is below the upper insert plate and substantially perpendicular to the post and the lower angle insert is attached at the lower end of the post so that the lower insert plate above the lower contact plate and substantially perpendicular to the post, and the lower contact plate and the upper insert plate are substantially parallel to one another.

The stabilizer post may additionally comprise an upper spacer attached adjacent the upper end of the post and a lower spacer attached to the lower end of the post, wherein the upper angle insert is attached adjacent to the upper end of the post through attachment of the upper contact plate to the upper spacer, and the lower angle insert is attached to the lower end of the post through attachment of the lower contact plate to the lower spacer.

The stabilizer post may additionally comprise attachment holes in the upper insert plate, the upper contact plate and the lower insert plate.

The stabilizer post may additionally comprise slots through the post between the upper end of the post and the lower end of the post.

The post of the stabilizer post of may comprise an upper slide post and a lower slide post, the lower slide post is slidably engaged within the upper slide post, and there are locking means for detachably locking the upper slide post and lower slide post in place.

The locking means may be a pin inserted in the slots of the upper slide post and lower slide post when aligned.

The present invention also comprises a method of attaching a stabilizer post of the present invention to a wall, said wall comprising a wall face covering vertical studs between a top plate and a bottom plate, comprising the steps of making a lower wall cut above the bottom plate between the studs and making an upper wall cut below the top plate, inserting the lower insert plate into the lower wall cut, inserting the upper insert plate into the upper wall cut, and attaching the lower insert plate to the bottom plate and the upper insert plate to the top plate.

The method may additionally comprise the step of attaching a scaffold hoist to the stabilizer post.

The method may additionally comprise the step of attaching a second post to the wall, attaching a scaffold hoist to the two stabilizer posts, and attaching a scaffold to the scaffold hoist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the brief description of the drawings and the following detailed description in which:

FIG. 1 is a front right perspective view of a stabilizer post of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a back left perspective view of the stabilizer post of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front right perspective view of a stabilizer post of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a back left perspective view of the stabilizer post of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front right perspective view of the stabilizer post of FIG. 1 with a scaffold hoist.

FIG. 6 is a back left perspective view of the stabilizer post with the scaffold hoist of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a right-side view of the stabilizer post with the scaffold hoist of FIG. 5 on a wall.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the stabilizer post with the scaffold hoist on the wall of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a back perspective view of the stabilizer post with the scaffold hoist on the wall of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the stabilizer post with the scaffold hoist on the wall of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the stabilizer post with the scaffold hoist on the wall of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 to 11 show a first embodiment of the present invention of a stabilizer post 1 for a scaffold hoist. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a second embodiment of the present invention of an alternate stabilizer post 5 for a scaffold hoist.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the stabilizer post 1 comprises an upper slide post 6 and a lower slide post 8 which is slidably engaged within the upper slide post 6. The upper post 6 may be moved upwardly and downwardly along the slide post 8, to the desired height and various locking means may be used to lock the posts at the desired height. The locking means may be unlocked so that the height of the upper post may be adjusted and locked again. In this embodiment the upper slide post 6 and lower slide post 8 both have slots 90 extending from one side of each post to the other side of that post and a tab lock pin 12 is inserted into a slot 90 in the upper slide post 6 that lines up with a slot 90 in the lower slide post 8 to lock the posts 6, 8 in place at the desired height.

An L-shaped upper angle insert 20 is attached to the upper slide post 6 through an upper spacer 26. The upper angle insert 20 is attached near the upper end of the upper slide post 6, and could be attached at the very top, although that may not be as stable. The upper angle insert 20 is folded like a short angle iron. The upper angle insert 20 comprises an upper insert plate 21 that extends substantially perpendicular to the upper slide post 6, and an upper contact plate 22 that is attached to the upper spacer 26 which is attached to the upper slide post 6. The upper insert plate 21 and upper contact plate 22 are either one contiguous piece or two pieces attached together and each have upper attachment holes 25.

An inverted lower angle insert 30 is attached to the lower end of the lower slide post 8 through a lower spacer 36. The lower angle insert 30 is folded like a short angle iron. The lower angle insert 30 comprises a lower insert plate 31 that extends substantially perpendicular to the lower slide post 8, and a lower contact plate 32 that is attached to the lower spacer 36 which is attached to the lower slide post 8. The lower insert plate 31 and lower contact plate 32 are either one contiguous piece or two pieces attached together and the lower insert plate has lower attachment holes 35. The lower contact plate 32 preferably does not extend below the lower slide post 8, but rather ends flush with the lower slide post 8 so that both the lower slide post 8 and the edge of the lower contact plate 32 rest on the ground to add stability to a scaffold.

Alternatively, the upper contact plate 22 and lower contact plate 32 could be thicker to eliminate the need for an upper spacer 26 and lower spacer 36, or the upper spacer 26 and lower spacer 36 could be contiguously formed with the upper contact plate 22 and lower contact plate 32, respectively. In a further alternative the upper contact plate 22 and lower contact plate 32 could be eliminated and the upper spacer 26 and lower spacer 36 thickened and directly attached to the upper insert 21 and lower insert 31, respectively.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention in which the alternate stabilizer post 5 comprises a single post 9, which may additionally have slots 90 (not shown) to provide an option for attaching a scaffold hoist. The alternate stabilizer post 5 has an upper angle insert 20 attached near the upper end and a lower angle insert attached to the bottom. The single post 9 may be specific heights for different alternate stabilizer posts 5 each for the respective use in a room in which the ceiling heights are seven, eight, nine or ten feet. In a further embodiment the single post 9 is longer and a second upper angle insert 20 added to the upper end of the longer single post 9.

Referring to the first embodiment of the present invention, the upper slide post 6 and lower slide post have slots 90 to adjust the height of the stabilizer post 1, but these slots 90 may also be used to adjust the height of a hoist guide 40 shown in FIGS. 5 to 11 which may move along the upper post 6 before being locked into place. It will be understood that other scaffold hoists may be used with the stabilizer post 1 and alternate stabilizer post 5 of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, the stabilizer post 1 is attached to a wall. The wall comprises vertical studs 230 between a top plate 200 and bottom plate 210 covered by a wall covering comprising an outer wall face 190 and inner wall face 192. The lower insert plate 31 of the lower insert angle 30 is inserted into a lower wall cut 191 made between the vertical studs 230 above the bottom plate 210, and then the upper insert plate 21 is inserted into an upper wall cut 191 made between studs 230 below the top plate 200, so that the lower insert plate 31 rests on the bottom plate 210 and the upper insert plate 21 lies under the top plate 200. The lower contact plate 32 butts up against the outer wall face 190 and the lower insert 31 is attached to the single plate 210 with screws or nails (not shown) that pass through lower attachment holes 35. The upper contact plate 22 butts up against the outer wall face 190 and is attached to the double top plate 200, 200 with screws or nails (not shown) that pass through upper attachment holes 25 into the double plate 200, 200, and the upper insert plate 21 is attached to the double plate 200, 200 with screws or nails (not shown) that pass through upper attachment holes 25.

In FIG. 7 there is a further embodiment in which the lower slide post 8 and the upper slide post 6 have fewer slots 90 than those shown in, FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6. The upper end of the lower slide post 8 is shown within upper slide post 6 and the length of the lower slide post 8 may be adjusted depending on the use for the stabilizer post 1. A longer lower slide post 8 adds strength but also weight and cost to the stabilizer post 1.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show two stabilizer posts 1 each with scaffold hoists 40 that hold up a scaffold 250 between them.

In a specific example of a stabilizer post 1 of the present invention the parts are all steel. The upper slide post 6 is 2×2×0.125 inches and 84 inches long. The upper spacer is 1.5×1.5×0.125 inches and 3 inches long. The upper angle insert 20 is 0.375 inches thick with the upper contact plate 22 is 3 inches×8 inches and the upper insert plate 21 is 6×8 inches. The upper end of the upper contact plate 22 and upper end of the upper spacer is 8 inches from the upper end of the upper slide post 6. The slots 90 begin 1 inch from the upper end of the upper slide post 6 and are spaced 12 inches apart. The lower slide post 8 is 1½×1½×0.125 inches and 84 inches long. The lower spacer is 1.5×1.5×0.125 inches and 1.5 inches long. The lower angle insert 30 is 0.375 inches thick with the lower contact plate 32 is 1.5 inches×8 inches and the lower insert plate 31 is 6×8 inches. The slots 90 begin 5.25 inches from the lower end of the lower slide post 8 and are spaced 12 inches apart.

It will be understood that the stabilizer post 1 and alternate stabilizer post 5 may be made of steel or other strong material or combination of materials that will not bend or break with the weight of a scaffold hoist 40 and scaffold 250. The size of the parts and placements is highly variable and may be custom made to the needs of the working site and scaffold hoist.

While embodiments of the invention have been described in the detailed description, the scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

1. A stabilizer post for a scaffold hoist comprising a post extending from an upper end to a lower end, an L-shaped upper angle insert comprising an upper contact plate extending down to a substantially perpendicular upper insert plate, an L-shaped lower angle insert comprising a lower contact plate extending up to a substantially perpendicular lower insert plate, and wherein the upper angle insert is attached adjacent to the upper end of the post so that the upper insert plate is below the upper insert plate and substantially perpendicular to the post and the lower angle insert is attached at the lower end of the post so that the lower insert plate above the lower contact plate and substantially perpendicular to the post, and the lower contact plate and the upper insert plate are substantially parallel to one another.

2. The stabilizer post of claim 1, additionally comprising an upper spacer attached adjacent the upper end of the post and a lower spacer attached to the lower end of the post, wherein the upper angle insert is attached adjacent to the upper end of the post through attachment of the upper contact plate to the upper spacer, and the lower angle insert is attached to the lower end of the post through attachment of the lower contact plate to the lower spacer.

3. The stabilizer post of claim 2 in which the upper insert plate, the upper contact plate and the lower insert plate additionally comprise attachment holes.

4. The stabilizer post of claim 1 in which the post additionally comprises slots through the post between the upper end of the post and the lower end of the post.

5. The stabilizer post of claim 3 in which the post additionally comprises slots through the post between the upper end of the post and the lower end of the post.

6. The stabilizer post of claim 1 in which the post comprises an upper slide post and a lower slide post, the lower slide post is slidably engaged within the upper slide post, and there are locking means for detachably locking the upper slide post and lower slide post in place.

7. The stabilizer post of claim 6, additionally comprising an upper spacer attached adjacent the upper end of the upper slide post and a lower spacer attached to the lower end of the lower slide post, wherein the upper angle insert is attached adjacent the upper end of the upper slide post through attachment of the upper contact plate to the upper spacer, and the lower angle insert is attached to the lower end of the lower slide post through attachment of the lower contact plate to the lower spacer.

8. The stabilizer post of claim 7 in which the upper slide post additionally comprises slots through the upper slide post between the upper end of the upper slide post and the lower end of the upper slide post, lower slide post additionally comprises slots through the lower slide post between the upper end of the lower slide post and the lower end of the lower slide post.

9. The stabilizer post of claim 8 in which the locking means is a pin inserted in the slots of the upper slide post and lower slide post when aligned.

10. The stabilizer post of claim 9 in which the upper insert plate, the upper contact plate and the lower insert plate additionally comprise attachment holes.

11. A method of attaching the stabilizer post of claim 1 to a wall, said wall comprising a wall face covering vertical studs between a top plate and a bottom plate, comprising the steps of making a lower wall cut above the bottom plate between the studs and making an upper wall cut below the top plate, inserting the lower insert plate into the lower wall cut, inserting the upper insert plate into the upper wall cut, and attaching the lower insert plate to the bottom plate and the upper insert plate to the top plate.

12. The method of claim 11, additionally comprising the step of attaching a scaffold hoist to the stabilizer post.

13. The method of claim 11, additionally comprising the step of attaching a second post to the wall, attaching a scaffold hoist to the two stabilizer posts, and attaching a scaffold to the scaffold hoist.

14. The stabilizer post of claim 2 in which the post additionally comprises slots through the post between the upper end of the post and the lower end of the post.

15. A method of attaching the stabilizer post of claim 5 to a wall, said wall comprising a wall face covering vertical studs between a top plate and a bottom plate, comprising the steps of making a lower wall cut above the bottom plate between the studs and making an upper wall cut below the top plate, inserting the lower insert plate into the lower wall cut, inserting the upper insert plate into the upper wall cut, and attaching the lower insert plate to the bottom plate and the upper insert plate to the top plate.

16. A method of attaching the stabilizer post of claim 6 to a wall, said wall comprising a wall face covering vertical studs between a top plate and a bottom plate, comprising the steps of making a lower wall cut above the bottom plate between the studs and making an upper wall cut below the top plate, inserting the lower insert plate into the lower wall cut, inserting the upper insert plate into the upper wall cut, and attaching the lower insert plate to the bottom plate and the upper insert plate to the top plate.

17. A method of attaching the stabilizer post of claim 7 to a wall, said wall comprising a wall face covering vertical studs between a top plate and a bottom plate, comprising the steps of making a lower wall cut above the bottom plate between the studs and making an upper wall cut below the top plate, inserting the lower insert plate into the lower wall cut, inserting the upper insert plate into the upper wall cut, and attaching the lower insert plate to the bottom plate and the upper insert plate to the top plate.

18. A method of attaching the stabilizer post of claim 8 to a wall, said wall comprising a wall face covering vertical studs between a top plate and a bottom plate, comprising the steps of making a lower wall cut above the bottom plate between the studs and making an upper wall cut below the top plate, inserting the lower insert plate into the lower wall cut, inserting the upper insert plate into the upper wall cut, and attaching the lower insert plate to the bottom plate and the upper insert plate to the top plate.

19. A method of attaching the stabilizer post of claim 9 to a wall, said wall comprising a wall face covering vertical studs between a top plate and a bottom plate, comprising the steps of making a lower wall cut above the bottom plate between the studs and making an upper wall cut below the top plate, inserting the lower insert plate into the lower wall cut, inserting the upper insert plate into the upper wall cut, and attaching the lower insert plate to the bottom plate and the upper insert plate to the top plate.

20. A method of attaching the stabilizer post of claim 10 to a wall, said wall comprising a wall face covering vertical studs between a top plate and a bottom plate, comprising the steps of making a lower wall cut above the bottom plate between the studs and making an upper wall cut below the top plate, inserting the lower insert plate into the lower wall cut, inserting the upper insert plate into the upper wall cut, and attaching the lower insert plate to the bottom plate and the upper insert plate to the top plate.