BRACKET FOR A WORK PLATFORM

Abstract: A bracket is adapted for mounting on a ladder (1) as the support means for a work platform as one or more planks. The bracket comprises an arm (2) as a seat for the platform, a carrying bar (3) adapted for being suspended in one of the rungs (4) of the ladder and engaging against a rung situated lower down, and a strut (5) arranged between the carrying bar and arm to support the latter substantially horizontally oriented. The strut has a hook means (6) for optional coaction with one of a row of notches (7) along the carrying bar. The arm is joined to the carrying bar at a first joint (9) and to the strut at a second joint (11). The second joint is movable and comprises two or more non-round and preferably like holes (14) along the arm coacting with a headed stud on the strut. The stud and its head are non-rotatably fixed to the strut, and formed to allow insertion of the head through the hole in only one, or some, previously determined swinging positions of the free strut, for locking the strut pivotably to the arm by swinging the strut into engagement with the carrying bar. The first joint is permanent. The mutually opposing facer of the arm and supporting bar are formed such as to allow swinging the arm and bar about the first joint and into mutually essentially parallel orientation of their longitudinal axes after the strut has been removed.

Description: Bracket for a work platform DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a bracket for mounting on a ladder as support for a work platform such as one or more planks. The bracket consists of an arm serving as a seat for the platform, a carrying bar adapted for suspension from one of the rungs of the ladder and engagement against a rung lower down on the ladder, and a strut arranged between the carrying bar and arm, for supporting the arm substantially horisontally oriented. The strut has hook means for optional coaction with one of a row of notches made along the carrying bar, the arm being connected to the carrying bar at a first joint and to the strut at a second joint. Such a bracket is already known from the British Patent Specification 273 501. Similar to other brackets in the art for the same purpose, it is burdened with the disadvantage of being rather complicated and bulky as well as unhandy when it is collapsed as far as is possible. -This latter .drawback is very much of a disadvantage in storage and distribution in marketing the brackets as well as storing by the consumer. The object of the invention is therefore * uo provide a simple bracket which requires small space in storage. It is also a prerequisite that the solution must offer at least the same safety as the brackets in the art. The desired result is obtained by the bracket being given the characterizing features disclosed by the following claim 1. An embodiment of the invention is described in detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawing, oι which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracket mounted on the front of a ladder for carrying one end of a working platform. Figure 2 is .a partial side view seen in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side view showing how the bracket is mounted on the underside of a ladder for carrying one end of a work platform. Figure 4 illustrates how the bracket only takes up a very small space when collapsed and in its packed condition. As will be seen from Figures 1 and 3 the bracket is adapted for be mounting on a ladder 1 , to serve as the support means for an unillustrated work platform, such as can consist of one or. more planks. With the aid of two or more ladders and just as many brackets, such a platform can be supported at its ends and furthermore a * c other parts of it as well. The bracket comprises an arm 2 serving as support for the platform, a carrying bar 3 adapted for being suspended from one of the rungs 4 of the ladder 1 and engagement against a rung 4 lower down the ladder, there being a strut 5 arranged between the carrying bar 3 and arm 2 for supporting the arm substantially horisontally. The strut 5 has a hook means 6 for optional coaction with one of four notches in a row along the edge of the carrying bar 3 nearest the strut. These notches are at an angle, opening slopingly upwards, to keep the hook means 6 safely in place under the weight of the bracket, platform and platform load, when the means is put into one of the notches on. placing the bracket on the ladder. The hook means 6 comprises a stud provided with a head, the stud itself fitting any one of the notches 7 while its head prevents movement of the stud in the longitudinal direction thereof and out of engage¬ ment with the notch. The carrying bar 3 is made from a length of angle section which has one flange facing towards the rungs and its other flange outstanding and provided with cv. P the notches 7. At its upper end the bar has a hook 8 dimensioned to accommodate a rung 4 of conventional shape and dimension. The arm 2 is similarly made from a length of angle section having a flange facing towards the out¬ side face of the outstanding flange of the bar 3. The arm and bar are joined at a first joint 9 in the form of a permanently mounted riveted or welded bolt for example, rotatable in either or both parts and situated in juxtaposed end portions of the. mutually engaging flanges. At its free end the arm 2 has an upstanding flap 10 as a stop for the platform. The arm 2 is furthermore connected to the strut 5 at a second joint 11. This joint is formed, at the free end of the strut by a stud 12 having a rigidly attached head 13, these parts arranged for coaction with either of two holes 14 in the arm. The joint 11 is thus movable. Both holes 14 are alike and non-round, or more specifically elongate and of uniform width. In. a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pin the head 13 of the stud 12 has a configuration such as to enable its insertion in either of the holes 14 when, the head is oriented in the same direction as the hole. As will be seen from Figure 2, the head 13 is set at an angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the strut 5, and can be taken through the hole 14 only when the strut is free from the carrying bar 3, and swung to a position putting the head in register with the hole. After the strut has been hooked into the arm the joint 10 is consequently locked against release as soon as the strut is hooked into the carrying bar as well. The mutually opposing faces of the arm 2 and bar 3 comprise flat and parallel surfaces on their flanges connected by the joint 9. This implementation allows the arm and bar to swing about the joint 9 into mutual, parallel orientation of their longitudinal axes when the strut 5 is disconnected and removed. As will be seen from Figure 4 the bracket can thus be packed together into a format craving small space for storage and transport. The strut 5 is then placed either in the space between the flanges of the arm or the support¬ ing bar (as shown) . Figure 3 illustrates the bracket suspended at the back and underside of a ladder, the strut 5 being connected to the inward hole 14 on the arm 2, so that even when the bracket is. suspended in this way, and with suitable positioning of the strut in one of the, notches 7 of the carrying bar 3, the bracket will afford a substantially horisontal arm as a seat for the plat- form. This arrangement makes it more convenient to step over from the ladder to the platform. Although the illustrated embodiment is expected to be the most- practicable, it is possible to give the mutually * opposing faces of the arm and supporting bar an implementation other than the one that is flat, without the mutual swinging to a substantial parallel orientation of their longitudinal axes being adventured. More holes 14 than the two shown may furthermore be arranged in the arm, as well as their being implemented with some other non-round and locking configuration than the one shown. The number of notches 7 can naturally be more or less than what is shown. It is also possible to position the joint. 9 further up than the hook 8, and to extend the arm 2, so that platform planks can be placed both in front of and behind the ladder. The invention is not restricted, either in these or other respects, to the illustrated embodiment, but may be varied within the scope of claim 1. • OMPI S wk p o

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A bracket adapted for mounting on a ladder (1) as support for a work platform such as one or more planks, said bracket consisting of an arm (2) serving as a seat for the platform, a carrying bar (3) adapted for suspensio from one of the rungs (4) of the ladder (1) and engage¬ ment against a rung (4) lower down on the ladder, and a strut (5) arranged between the carrying bar (3) and arm (2) , for supporting the arm substantially horisontally oriented, the strut having a hook means (6) for optional coaction with one of a row of notches (7) made along the carrying bar (3) , the arm (2) being connected to the carrying bar. (3) at a first joint .(9) and with the strut (5) at a second joint (11), characterized in that the second joint (11) is movable, and comprises two or more non-round and preferably like holes (14) .along the arm (2) , the strut (5) being provided with a non-rotatable stud (12) with a rigidly attached head (13), formed such as to allow the entrance of .the head through the hole (14) only in one, or some, predetermined angular attitudes of the free strut (5) , for locking it pivotably to the arm (2) by swinging it into engagement with the carrying bar (3) ; in that the first joint (9) is permanent; and in that the mutually opposing faces of the arm (2) and carrying bar (3) are formed such as to allow pivoting of the arm and bar about the first joint (9) to mutually, substantially parallel orientation of their longitudinal axes after the strut (5) has been removed. 2. Bracket as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the mutually opposing faces of the arm (2) and carrying bar (3) axe substantially flat and parallel. 3. Bracket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holes (14) in the arm (2) constitute like elongate holes, and that the head (13) of the stud (12) has a configuration corresponding to said hole in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the stud, CWPl said head (13) being set at an angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of. the strut (5) .

Inventors: ROENNING TOR, ROENNING, TOR
Applicants: ROENNING TOR, ROENNING, TOR
Application year: 1983
Main classification: E06C7
IPC codes: E06C7