Patent ID: 9416552
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: E04G

Claim Text:
1. A fall arrest assembly for use in erecting a scaffold assembly comprising: a decking structure configured for connection to at least one supporting members of the scaffold assembly, the decking structure comprising a top surface and a bottom surface extending between opposite ends thereof and separated by a thickness; a rail assembly, the rail assembly including a rail that is positioned or formed on the top surface of the decking structure so that the rail extends lengthwise from one of the opposite ends to the other of the opposite ends on top of the decking structure, the rail assembly further including two stop pin assemblies disposed at opposite ends of the rail, each stop pin assembly having a pin and a corresponding activation switch operatively associated with the respective pin, wherein each stop pin assembly further comprises a stop pin plunger for actuating the stop pin when the decking structure is connected to or disassembled from another decking structure and a stop pin guide for guiding the stop pin plunger during extension and retraction thereof, the stop pin assembly being attached directly to the bottom surface of the decking structure; a movable tie-off apparatus connected to, so as to travel along the rail to provide an anchor point to permit an individual to tie-off in a manner that permits the individual with a range of motion along the decking structure while being tied-off and to arrest a fall of the individual from the decking structure; and a first uplift hook mechanism connected to the decking structure, the first uplift hook mechanism for engaging to and/or disengaging from a respective one of the supporting members of the scaffold assembly; a plurality of deck hooks connected to each of the respective opposite ends of the decking structure for connecting the decking structure to the supporting members of the scaffold assembly; and wherein the activation switches are each positioned near a respective one of the opposing ends adjacent at least one of the deck hooks and configured to actuate the pins when the decking structure is connected to or otherwise installed with respect to: (i) the another decking structure in end-to-end fashion and (ii) at least one of the supporting members of the scaffold assembly such that the pins retract into or with respect to the rail upon actuation of the corresponding activation switch so as to permit an individual to move beyond one of the opposing ends of the decking structure and onto the another decking structure, and further wherein the pin is configured to extend out from or with respect to the rail when the decking structure is disconnected and/or otherwise disassembled from (i) such another decking structure and (ii) at least one of the supporting members of the scaffold assembly so as to prevent the individual from moving beyond one of the opposing ends of the decking structure.