STABILIZER POSTS FOR SCAFFOLD HOIST

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.

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1,2, and5to11show a first embodiment of the present invention of a stabilizer post1for a scaffold hoist.FIGS.2and3show a second embodiment of the present invention of an alternate stabilizer post5for a scaffold hoist.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, a first embodiment of the stabilizer post1comprises an upper slide post6and a lower slide post8which is slidably engaged within the upper slide post6. The upper post6may be moved upwardly and downwardly along the slide post8, 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 post6and lower slide post8both have slots90extending from one side of each post to the other side of that post and a tab lock pin12is inserted into a slot90in the upper slide post6that lines up with a slot90in the lower slide post8to lock the posts6,8in place at the desired height.

An L-shaped upper angle insert20is attached to the upper slide post6through an upper spacer26. The upper angle insert20is attached near the upper end of the upper slide post6, and could be attached at the very top, although that may not be as stable. The upper angle insert20is folded like a short angle iron. The upper angle insert20comprises an upper insert plate21that extends substantially perpendicular to the upper slide post6, and an upper contact plate22that is attached to the upper spacer26which is attached to the upper slide post6. The upper insert plate21and upper contact plate22are either one contiguous piece or two pieces attached together and each have upper attachment holes25.

An inverted lower angle insert30is attached to the lower end of the lower slide post8through a lower spacer36. The lower angle insert30is folded like a short angle iron. The lower angle insert30comprises a lower insert plate31that extends substantially perpendicular to the lower slide post8, and a lower contact plate32that is attached to the lower spacer36which is attached to the lower slide post8. The lower insert plate31and lower contact plate32are either one contiguous piece or two pieces attached together and the lower insert plate has lower attachment holes35. The lower contact plate32preferably does not extend below the lower slide post8, but rather ends flush with the lower slide post8so that both the lower slide post8and the edge of the lower contact plate32rest on the ground to add stability to a scaffold.

Alternatively, the upper contact plate22and lower contact plate32could be thicker to eliminate the need for an upper spacer26and lower spacer36, or the upper spacer26and lower spacer36could be contiguously formed with the upper contact plate22and lower contact plate32, respectively. In a further alternative the upper contact plate22and lower contact plate32could be eliminated and the upper spacer26and lower spacer36thickened and directly attached to the upper insert21and lower insert31, respectively.

FIGS.3and4show a second embodiment of the present invention in which the alternate stabilizer post5comprises a single post9, which may additionally have slots90(not shown) to provide an option for attaching a scaffold hoist. The alternate stabilizer post5has an upper angle insert20attached near the upper end and a lower angle insert attached to the bottom. The single post9may be specific heights for different alternate stabilizer posts5each 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 post9is longer and a second upper angle insert20added to the upper end of the longer single post9.

Referring to the first embodiment of the present invention, the upper slide post6and lower slide post have slots90to adjust the height of the stabilizer post1, but these slots90may also be used to adjust the height of a hoist guide40shown inFIGS.5to11which may move along the upper post6before being locked into place. It will be understood that other scaffold hoists may be used with the stabilizer post1and alternate stabilizer post5of the present invention.

As shown inFIGS.7to11, the stabilizer post1is attached to a wall. The wall comprises vertical studs230between a top plate200and bottom plate210covered by a wall covering comprising an outer wall face190and inner wall face192. The lower insert plate31of the lower insert angle30is inserted into a lower wall cut191made between the vertical studs230above the bottom plate210, and then the upper insert plate21is inserted into an upper wall cut191made between studs230below the top plate200, so that the lower insert plate31rests on the bottom plate210and the upper insert plate21lies under the top plate200. The lower contact plate32butts up against the outer wall face190and the lower insert31is attached to the single plate210with screws or nails (not shown) that pass through lower attachment holes35. The upper contact plate22butts up against the outer wall face190and is attached to the double top plate200,200with screws or nails (not shown) that pass through upper attachment holes25into the double plate200,200, and the upper insert plate21is attached to the double plate200,200with screws or nails (not shown) that pass through upper attachment holes25.

InFIG.7there is a further embodiment in which the lower slide post8and the upper slide post6have fewer slots90than those shown in,FIGS.1,2,5and6. The upper end of the lower slide post8is shown within upper slide post6and the length of the lower slide post8may be adjusted depending on the use for the stabilizer post1. A longer lower slide post8adds strength but also weight and cost to the stabilizer post1.

FIGS.8to11show two stabilizer posts1each with scaffold hoists40that hold up a scaffold250between them.

In a specific example of a stabilizer post1of the present invention the parts are all steel. The upper slide post6is 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 insert20is 0.375 inches thick with the upper contact plate22is 3 inches×8 inches and the upper insert plate21is 6×8 inches. The upper end of the upper contact plate22and upper end of the upper spacer is 8 inches from the upper end of the upper slide post6. The slots90begin 1 inch from the upper end of the upper slide post6and are spaced 12 inches apart. The lower slide post8is 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 insert30is 0.375 inches thick with the lower contact plate32is 1.5 inches×8 inches and the lower insert plate31is 6×8 inches. The slots90begin 5.25 inches from the lower end of the lower slide post8and are spaced 12 inches apart.

It will be understood that the stabilizer post1and alternate stabilizer post5may be made of steel or other strong material or combination of materials that will not bend or break with the weight of a scaffold hoist40and scaffold250. 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.