Abstract:
A self-contained portable self-supporting scaffolding kit for mounting adjacent an elevated structure and allowing a user to reach the elevated structure to work thereon. The kit includes a movable base assembly that supports a tower assembly along which a platform assembly moves, in a use configuration. In a portable configuration, the kit is partially disassembled, folded and secured on the base assembly for transportation thereof, with all required equipment pieces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 61/729,468, filed on Nov. 23, 2012, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to scaffoldings, and more specifically to a self-contained portable and self-supporting scaffolding kit, with easy-to-use and high safety features. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Scaffoldings with raisable platform mounted on a tower or the like are well known in the art of building construction. These scaffoldings require the tower to be temporarily secured to the adjacent structure at a relatively low height, starting at about 20 feet from ground, when carrying substantial loads. These attachments require the help of skilled technicians and prevent the scaffolding from being rapidly displaced from one place to another whenever required. Furthermore these types of scaffoldings usually include massive and heavy sections of towers in order to carry significant loads with a relatively small size cross section. 
         [0004]    There is no existing ‘portable’ size scaffoldings in which the overall structure is relatively light weight for self-support while being easily assembled and/or disassembled by a single worker, and still allowing for the worker being on the vertically displaceable platform to be capable of displacing himself/herself all along the platform through the tower. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, existing scaffoldings always require significant amount of equipment that usually need to be carried independently from the scaffolding itself, such that either many back and forth displacements between two points are required or many motor vehicles are used to carry them all. Alternatively, a single truck with a large loading platform could be used, but such a truck would have limited access to construction areas and typically requires a skilled and licensed driver. 
         [0006]    Similarly, existing non-raisable scaffoldings, in order to cover a surface of approximately 40 feet wide by 32 feet high (about 12x10 meters), requires about 4 hours to be fully installed by a minimum of two skilled workers, before use. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved self-contained portable self-supporting scaffolding kit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved self-contained portable self-supporting scaffolding kit. 
         [0009]    An advantage of the present invention is that the scaffolding kit is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0010]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the self-supporting scaffolding of the kit does not require to be anchored to an adjacent building structure, up to a total height of the scaffolding equivalent to about a maximum of a 4-story high building. 
         [0011]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the self-supporting scaffolding kit is portable such that, when into an unassembled configuration it could be part of a trailer or the like for motor vehicle. 
         [0012]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that the self-supporting scaffolding kit is easily assembled/disassembled and installed by a single worker, being alone with no help. 
         [0013]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the self-supporting scaffolding kit is fully safe for any worker and does not require any special skill for the operation, including assembly and disassembly, of the scaffolding. 
         [0014]    Still another advantage of the present invention is that the self-supporting scaffolding kit may include different working equipment, such as a crane assembly located on top of the tower assembly, adjustable platforms and/or extensions thereof, all this working equipment being carryable on the same trailer as of the scaffolding, to provide for a self-contained portable kit. 
         [0015]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the self-supporting scaffolding kit does not require the use of any ladder or the like to get on and off from the platform temporarily locked at any specific height since the tower itself includes the ladder to allow a user to climb along and inside the supporting tower. 
         [0016]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the self-supporting scaffolding kit can be easily customized to provide pre-determined features to specific users, wherever desired. 
         [0017]    According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-contained portable self-supporting scaffolding kit for mounting adjacent an elevated structure and allowing a user to reach the elevated structure to work thereon, said kit comprising:
       a support base assembly;   a tower assembly releasably mounting on the support base assembly, the tower assembly including a plurality of tower sections releasably attaching to and on top of one another in an end-to-end configuration, a lowermost said tower section releasably attaching to the support base, each said tower section having two opposite lateral sides with facing openings for allowing a user to move through said tower section via said facing openings; and   a platform assembly being movably mounted on the tower assembly for displacement therealong, the platform assembly including a sleeve member mounting around the tower assembly, and a platform member connecting to the sleeve member, the platform member being movable between a portable configuration with the platform member being adjacent and substantially parallel to the sleeve member and the tower assembly, and a use configuration with the platform member extending substantially perpendicular to the sleeve member and the tower assembly.       
 
         [0021]    Conveniently, each tower section has a rectangular, and preferably square cross-section. 
         [0022]    Conveniently, for each tower section, the two opposite lateral sides are connected to one another via a font side and a rear side, at least one of the front and rear sides includes a ladder member. 
         [0023]    Typically, the platform member extends on opposite sides of the sleeve member and generally perpendicularly to the lateral sides of the tower sections 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the platform member hingeably connects to the sleeve member. 
         [0025]    Conveniently, the platform member includes two half portions hingeably connecting to one another. 
         [0026]    Conveniently, the platform assembly includes a plurality of holes slidably receiving a respective plank support beam, the plank support beam laterally protruding from the platform member for supporting a side platform extension thereon. 
         [0027]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar components, wherein: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic perspective view of a self-contained, protable and self-supporting scaffolding kit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in the use configuration; 
           [0030]      FIG. 1   a  is an enlarged partially sectioned perspective view taken along line  1  a of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic rear elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the use configuration; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3   a  is a simplified schematic rear elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , shown with most equipment pieces; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3   b  is a view similar to  FIG. 3   a,  showing the embodiment in the portable configuration; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a simplified schematic side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , in the use configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , there is shown a self-contained and portable self-supporting scaffolding kit  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The term portable means a scaffolding kit that can easily be carried on a trailer by a motorized vehicle and easily assembled/disassembled by a single worker, and that is not required to be secured to an adjacent building structure S or the like when being used as its overall maximum height is in the order of a four (4) story high building. 
         [0037]    The self-contained and portable self-supporting scaffolding kit  8 , shown in the use configuration in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , includes self-supporting scaffolding  10  that comprises a support base assembly  12 , a tower assembly  14  mounting on and attaching to the support assembly  12  and a platform assembly  16  movably (slidably) mounting on the tower assembly  14 , as illustrated by arrow A 1 . The support assembly  12  is typically formed of a base member  20 , preferably heavy (in the order of about 3000-4000 lb, about 1500-2000 kg, for example), generally in the form of closed structure of steel beams filled with concrete or the like having a tower attachment structure  22  protruding upwardly therefrom, and a plurality of laterally extendable (preferably lengthwise, as illustrated by arrow A 2 ) mounting legs or outriggers  24  and high adjustable (as illustrated by arrow A 3 ) feet  26  for stability of the scaffolding  10 . The base assembly  12  is typically mounted on wheels  28  for displacement thereof, along with a hitch assembly  29  or the like. Accordingly, the height adjustment of the feet  26  allow to raise the scaffolding  10  such that it is properly horizontally levelled and supported by the four legs  24  only, and not the wheels  28 , when being used. 
         [0038]    The tower assembly  14  typically includes a plurality of tower sections  40  releasably attaching to and on top of one another in an end-to-end configuration. A lowermost tower section  40 ′ releasably attaches to the attachment structure  22  of the support base assembly  12 . Each tower section  40  has two opposite lateral sides  42 , a front side  44  typically for facing a building structure S or the like, and an opposite rear side  46 . Each tower section  40 ,  40 ′ typically has a rectangular, and preferably square cross section (typically about 3.5 feet or 1 meter of side width). Each lateral side  42  has an opening  48  adapted to face the corresponding opening  48  of the opposite lateral side  42  to allow a user of the scaffolding kit  8  to move through the tower section  40  via the facing openings  48 . 
         [0039]    In order to allow the users/workers to access the platform assembly  16 , at least the front side  44  of the each tower section  40  typically includes a series of ladder extensions or steps  50  inwardly protruding from generally horizontal cross bars  52  thererof, as better shown in  FIG. 1   a.  Each tower section  40  includes an alignment feature  54  at its upper end to enable the proper alignment of the adjacent upper tower section  40  during assembly, and is releasably secured to the adjacent upper tower section  40  using conventional bolts (not shown) or the like. 
         [0040]    The platform assembly  16  typically includes a sleeve member  60  mounting around the tower assembly  14  and a platform member  62  movably securing to a platform base  61  of the sleeve member  60 , at a lower end thereof and laterally extending therefrom, preferably on both sides, for structural equilibrium reasons, as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b.  The sleeve member  60  typically includes a crane  55  carrying a wire cable  53  usually ending with a hook  56 . In order to have the required flexibility to lift a tower section  40  for securing it on top of the previous tower section  40 , the crane  55  typically includes a telescopic vertical boom  57  (as illustrated by arrow A 4 ) rotatably supporting a horizontal boom  58  (as illustrated by arrow A 5 ) on which the motor/reel assembly  59  of the wire cable  53  is slidably mounted (as illustrated by arrow A 6 ). The crane  55 , in addition to be used for the assembly and disassembly of the self-supporting scaffolding  10 , is also used for the folding and unfolding of the hinged platform members  62  (as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b ), and for the raising of equipment, material or the like (not shown) onto the platform assembly  16 . The platform member  62  typically extends on opposite sides of the sleeve member  60  and generally perpendicularly to the lateral sides  42  of the tower sections  40 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the sleeve member  60  is secured to the tower assembly  14  via a lifting mechanism  64  generally located on a rear side thereof for axial displacement relative thereto. The lifting mechanism  64  includes an electrically or hydraulically powered hook member  66  interfacing with the series of horizontal cross bars  52  of the rear side  46  of the tower sections  40 . The sleeve member  60  slides along the tower assembly  14  using sliding guide tabs (not shown) abutting against the four (4) corners of tower assembly  14 , typically at both the upper and lower ends of the sleeve member  60 . The sleeve member  60  also includes a safety stop mechanism (not shown) known in the art to prevent inadvertent free falling of the sleeve member  60  along the tower assembly  14 . The safety stop mechanism, typically biased to engage one of the cross bars  52 , is typically selectively disengageable from the tower assembly  14  when the hook member  66  is engaged with one of the cross bars  52 , for allowing the displacement of the sleeve member  60  along the tower assembly  14 . Furthermore, two apertures  70  are defined on lateral sides of the sleeve member  60  to clear off the space between the upper and lower ends thereof. The apertures  70 , when in register with the facing openings  48  of a corresponding tower section  40 , allow for a worker to step therethrough, in a generally standing position, from one lateral side of the tower assembly  14  to the other, on the platform member  62 . For safety purposes, each aperture  70  typically includes a pair of spring doors  72  or the like, for automatic closing thereof, preferably openable towards the respective platform member  62 . 
         [0042]    In the embodiment shown throughout the Figures, the platform member  62  are located on each side of the sleeve member  60  and are typically hingeably mounted onto the platform base  61 . Each side of the platform member  62  is further divided, lengthwise, into two half portions that are hingeably connected to one another such that, when in the portable configuration shown in  FIG. 3   b,  both half portions are with their bottom sides facing one another. The handrails  80  of the platform members  62  include a foldable upper portion  82  hingeably mounted onto a corresponding fixed lower portion  84 . The upper portions  82  are foldable to allow for a more compact portable configuration of the scaffolding  10 , and to allow the installation of a working table  86  whenever required, to carry construction material as bricks and the like at a suitable height for the workers, as best seen in  FIG. 1 . Platform end members  88  at the extremities, with their respective hand rail  89 , allow for the users/workers to freely move between the platform member  62  and temporary and customizable front and/or rear side platform extensions  90 . The platform extensions  90  are typically provided with wooden planks  92  or the like supported by plank support beams  94  slidably inserted into corresponding holes  96  provided underneath the platform members  62 . The width of each platform extension  90  may vary from nothing to about six (6) feet (2 meters), about six to ten wooden planks  92  side by side, such that the overall width of the scaffolding  10  could be as wide as about sixteen (16) feet (5.5 meters). The free end of each plank support beam  94  typically releasably receives a hand rail post  98 , itself adapted to slidably receive, into slots  99 , side rail planks  100  that form the protective hand rail  102 , which is not required when the corresponding platform extension  90  does face the building structure S or the like. 
         [0043]    When in the self-contained portable configuration, as shown in  FIG. 3   b,  the slidable plank support beams  94  are typically stacked on the base member  20  between stoppers  110 , while the wooden planks  92 ,  100  are typically stacked on the base member  20  beside the plank support beams  94 . The two platform end members  88  are typically located on the base member  20  beneath the respective retracted platform member  62  secured in the portable configuration. All other small equipment are typically located into a recess  112 , provided with closing panels  114  or the like (see  FIG. 1 ), centrally located on the base member  20  under the tower assembly  14 . The adjustable feet  26  are raised and the mounting legs  24  are retracted into their portable configuration Two (2) of the three (3) tower sections  40  are located on the rear side of the base member  20  while the other one is located on the wooden planks  92 ,  100  beside the sleeve member and the lowermost tower section  40 ′ secured to the base member  20 . All equipment is properly secured to the base assembly  12 , using straps or the like (not shown) well-known in the art, to allow for its safe transportation. 
         [0044]    When fully assembled in the use configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , with three tower sections  40  mounted on top on the lowermost section  40 ′, the self-supporting scaffolding  10  essentially covers a working wall surface of an adjacent building structure S of about 40 feet (12 meters) long by 32 feet (10 meters) high. 
         [0045]    Although not illustrated, the self-supporting scaffolding kit  8  could eventually be used with about ten (10) additional tower sections  40  (other than the four (4) sections shown in the drawings), to reach higher adjacent structures, such as up to about 10 or 12-story high buildings or bridges or the like. In such cases, the uppermost tower section  40  would need to be anchored onto the adjacent structure, in a manner well known in the art, and the support base assembly  12 , or trailer, would also need to be anchored either to the adjacent structure or to adjacent heavy blocks of concrete or the like, in order to prevent potential accidental tilting of the tower assembly  14  or displacement of the support base assembly  12 . Similarly, although not shown, the base assembly  12 , could simply be a heavy concrete block provided with a tower attachment structure  22  to securely receive the tower assembly  14  of the self-supporting scaffolding  10  thereon. 
         [0046]    Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.