Retractable scaffold support

A retractable scaffold support bracket is provided for mounting on the exterior surface of a concrete wall form. The bracket can be pivoted from an open enabling position to a closed locked position for transport or storage of the form walls. The bracket is of substantially triangular shape comprising a support plate, a vertical rod member, and a reinforcing truss. The vertical rod member is pivotally attached to a mounting base which secures the support bracket to the concrete form wall. The position of the support bracket is maintained in either the open or closed position by a locking element attached to the mounting plate and can be moved switched between the two positions by simply lifting and pivoting the bracket to the desired position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a retractable scaffold support. More particularly, the present invention relates to a retractable scaffold support for use on concrete forms that can be pivoted to lay flat against the side of form for storage and transportation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Scaffolds are widely used on concrete forms to allow a worker to access, adjust or set up the tall forms. Furthermore, with the type of gang forms used to create concrete walls, it is often necessary for the worker to climb up near the top to direct the flow of concrete as it is delivered.

Many of the prior art scaffolds are of the free standing type designed to be erected on the ground adjacent to a concrete form wall. These scaffolds require multiple support frames which are burdensome to transport and store, as well as time consuming to erect and adjust. Other types of prior art scaffolds are affixed to the sides of the forms but are usually permanently positioned once mounted, requiring the entire bracket assembly to be removed prior to transportation or storage of the form walls.

Folding scaffold brackets such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,060 by inventor Gregory have been widely used in substitution of the above types of scaffolds. The advantage of having a foldable bracket is that it does not need to be removed from the form wall prior to the transportation thereof. This design requires the removal of a securing pin from each of the scaffold support brackets used, prior to the bracket and scaffold being folded flat against the form wall. As a result, there is a risk of loosing the pins around a construction site, and furthermore, the folding process may require more than one individual to disengage the brackets simultaneously prior to folding.

As a result of the aforesaid shortcomings of prior art scaffold support designs, the need arose for a scaffold support bracket that can be attached to the side of a concrete form wall and easily folded flat for transportation and storage thereof without the need to remove the bracket beforehand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a foldable scaffold support bracket that is simple and economic to manufacture and can be permanently attached to a concrete form wall.

Also, it is a further object of the present invention to provide for a foldable scaffold support bracket that can be easily folded flat against the form wall it is mounted on for transportation and storage thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a foldable scaffold support bracket that can be folded flat against the form wall it is mounted to without the need to remove any parts prior to.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a foldable scaffold support bracket that, once folded by the user to a closed flat position, will maintain that position against the form wall it is mounted to until such time it is desired to be re positioned for use at a later time.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in the preferred embodiment of the present invention by a foldable scaffold support to be used in series with concrete forms comprising a generally triangular support pivotally mounted to a base comprised of two rectangular plates, a tubular hinge portion attached to the plates, and a means of locking the brace in either the open or closed position.

When the support is mounted vertically to a concrete form support beam it can be adjustably oriented in either a closed position wherein the support is flat against the form wall; or an open position where the support is perpendicular to the form wall for supporting a scaffold walkway such as a plank. Adjustment between the two positions is achieved by simply lifting up on the support and pivoting it horizontally on its base to either desired position. Upon release, the support will lock in position until it is desired to be moved again at a later time.

The triangular support bracket is comprised of a horizontal plate mounted to a perpendicular shaft at one end. A second metal plate connects the free end of the horizontal plate with the free end of the perpendicular shaft forming the hypotenuse of the triangular bracket. A short vertical plate is mounted to the end where the horizontal plate is attached to the hypotenuse for preventing the floor board from sliding off the support bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The foldable scaffold support bracket of the present invention, labeled generally as10as shown inFIGS. 1–6, is designed to be mounted in series to the vertical supports on the exterior wall of a concrete form for supporting one or more horizontal plank walkways there on. The preferred embodiment comprises two independent, but inseparable, complementary elements, the mounting base element12and the support bracket14, and a locking means21.

As shown inFIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the scaffold bracket10is to be mounted to a vertical support beam11of a concrete wall form13. Designed to be used in series, once two or more scaffold support brackets10are attached to the concrete form13on adjacent support beams11, a scaffold plank60is supported on top of the brackets10, allowing a worker to walk or stand upon the plank to perform their required duties with ease.

Referring now specifically toFIGS. 2–3, there is shown the preferred embodiment of the foldable scaffold bracket10in both the open locked position and the open unlocked position respectively. In the open locked position, a horizontal plank may be placed thereon, providing a convenient walkway for standing or walking upon. In the unlocked position, achieved by lifting up on the support bracket14, the support bracket14may be manually pivoted from the open position shown inFIGS. 2–3where as a scaffold plank60may be placed on the bracket14for standing or walking, to the closed position, shown inFIGS. 5–6, for transportation or storage of the concrete forms13with the convenience of having the bracket14substantially parallel to the wall form13to save space during storage.

As shown inFIGS. 2–3, the mounting base12is comprised of a first steel plate15and a second steel plate16both of a general rectangular shape. The first plate15and second plate16are positioned in-line and planar, a predetermined distance apart, and are connected by way of a central pivot tube20welded along one side, adjacent and parallel to both first edge17of plate15and second edge18of plate16. The tube20is attached so as to span the gap between the first plate15and second plate16and extend a predetermined distance beyond the gap along both edges17and18, so as to provide a secure connection between the three components. Furthermore, plates15and16have one or more holes (not numbered) for attaching the mounting base12to a vertical support frame11of a concrete wall-form13.

FIGS. 4–6, further show the second plate16embodying a square locking tube22of a predetermined length with a bore through23for receiving a locking end50of the support bracket14. The locking tube22is welded to the second plate16along second edge18, in-line with the pivot tube20but located distally along edge17a predetermined distance from the lower end52of pivot tube20. The locking tube has both a first end24proximal to the lower end52of pivot tube20for receiving the locking end50of the support bracket14, and a second end26positioned flush with edge28of second plate16. The locking tube22is further reinforced against breakage by a triangular reinforcing plate32welded perpendicular to the second plate16and locking tube22a predetermined distance from edge28of second plate16.

The support bracket14comprises three main elements: a horizontal support plate40for supporting a horizontal scaffold plank60that may be placed thereupon, a vertical shaft42for pivotal attachment to the pivot tube20of the mounting base12, and a truss plate44for reinforcing support plate40, all welded together in a generally triangular orientation.

Specifically, support plate40is welded at a first end perpendicular to and generally planar with pivotal shaft42at a first end thereof, forming a right angle. The terminal end46of shaft42and terminal end48of plate40are welded planarly to the truss plate44, forming the hypotenuse of the triangle.

Referring now toFIGS. 4–6, a detailed drawing of the locking means18is shown in both the locked and unlocked positions. Specifically,FIG. 4shows the locking means18whereas the mounting bracket14is in the closed locked position and the support bracket14is generally perpendicular to the mounting base12and generally parallel to the concrete wall form13.

Once the scaffold bracket10is attached to a concrete form13, the support bracket14can be manually pivoted from the closed locked position to the open locked position with ease. To release the locking means and change positions of the support bracket14, the user simply lifts up on the support bracket14, causing the pivotal shaft42to slide vertically through the tube20of the mounting base12enough to cause the locking end50of the pivotal shaft42to slide completely out and free of the locking tube22. Complete separation of the support bracket14from the mounting base12is prevented when the top edge of the truss plate44comes in contact with the lower end52of the pivot tube20. Once the support bracket14is in the raised unlocked position, it can be pivoted to either the open position or the closed position. Once positioned in the desired orientation, the used simply lowers the support bracket14, causing the pivotal shaft42to slide through the pivot tube20and further enabling the locking end50of the pivotal shaft42to be inserted into the locking tube22to a predetermined distance. Further lowering of the support bracket14is prevented once the lower edge of the support plate40contacts the upper end54of the pivot tube20.