Abstract:
The wall hanging scaffold includes a pair of vertical support poles, which hang from top plate attachment brackets along the wall of a building structure. Each pole has a rigid, monolithic, triangulated brace removably and vertically adjustably secured thereto, with a support platform extending across the braces. Additional safety structure, i.e., safety posts, may be installed in the outboard ends of the braces, with safety rails being installed across the safety posts. A pulley may also be placed in the upper end of a safety post for lifting material and equipment up to the scaffold from the underlying surface. A diagonal brace(s) may be secured to one or more of the upper top plate hanger brackets to relieve stress on the otherwise unbraced wall due to the scaffold resting thereon during construction. The scaffold may remain in place up to closure of the eaves and soffit of the structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to scaffolds and similar supports for use in building construction, maintenance, and repair. More particularly, the present invention relates to a scaffolding assembly that may be hung or suspended from the top plate of a wall for use during construction of a building.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Scaffolding and similar supports are universally used in the construction, maintenance, and repair of various building structures where it is necessary to work above ground level. Typically, scaffolds are supported by the underlying surface, which may lead to various problems in leveling and stabilizing the scaffold. As a result, some scaffolds have been constructed to hang from some portion of the structure in order to avoid the need for ground support.  
         [0005]     Of these various structure-supported scaffolds, many attach temporarily to the roof of the completed, or nearly completed, structure and, as a result, require some means of clearing the outwardly extended eaves of the roof. Other wall supported scaffolding uses permanent anchors to secure to the completed wall structure. A few devices have been constructed for suspension from the top plate of a building structure, but most such devices have very little vertical span from their upper ends and the platform supports, and no vertical adjustment. Thus, they can only be used for work along the lower edge and eaves of the roof, as there is insufficient clearance between the eaves and the platform for workers. Where vertical height adjustment is provided for the platform in such top plate suspended scaffolds, relatively cumbersome, multiple piece braces are used, which are difficult to assemble in place along the vertical wall of a building structure.  
         [0006]     One such building supported scaffold structure is shown in International Patent Publication No. WO 94/17,264 published on Aug. 4, 1994. This publication describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a roof-mounted support with a cantilever structure extending outwardly therefrom. An adjustably extendable beam extends from the roof-mounted structure, with a scaffold-supported pulley depending therefrom. No means is apparent for suspending the device from the top plate of a wall.  
         [0007]     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a wall hanging scaffold solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The wall hanging scaffold is configured for suspension from the top plate of the wall of a structure under construction. The wall may be finished or unfinished, and the upper support is configured to provide for removal with the roof structure and sheathing in place. A pair of spaced apart vertical support poles extends downwardly along the wall, with each pole having a rigid, monolithic triangular brace removably installed thereto. The braces, in turn, support a horizontal platform thereacross, with no requirement for any form of support from the underlying surface. The braces may be adjustably installed on the support poles in order to position the platform at the desired working height.  
         [0009]     A number of additional features may be incorporated into the wall hanging scaffold. Provision is made for additional bracing within the building structure, to preclude undue outward loads on an otherwise unsupported wall during construction. Moreover, the scaffold may include safety posts that may support safety rails, and which may also support a winch pulley to facilitate the lifting or raising of material and equipment from the underlying surface to the scaffold.  
         [0010]     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a wall hanging scaffold according to the present invention, showing its operation and use.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of a single upper, top plate hanger bracket used with the present scaffold.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the present scaffold, showing the addition of a diagonal internal building structure brace to preclude undue lateral stresses on the wall.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view of the lower standoff for one of the vertical support poles, with an optional additional support pole shown depending therefrom in broken lines. 
     
    
       [0015]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     The present invention comprises a wall hanging scaffold assembly configured for hanging or suspending from the top plate of a wall during construction. The device may include various additional features, such as a safety post and railing assembly, one or more winch pulleys, additional bracing, and/or means for suspending additional scaffolding from the topmost assembly, if so desired.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  provides an environmental perspective view of a hanging scaffold assembly  10  of the present invention, supported from the top plate T of a wall W of a structure under construction. The scaffold  10  includes a first and a second top plate hanger bracket, respectively  12  and  14  (the first bracket  12  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), from which corresponding first and second scaffold poles  16  and  18  depend. Each of the poles  16  and  18  in turn supports a rigid, monolithic triangular platform support brace, respectively  20  and  22 , which support one or more removable scaffold worker support platforms  24  thereacross, generally as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  provides a detailed perspective view of an exemplary top plate hanger bracket, e.g., the first bracket  12 . It will be understood that the two brackets  12  and  14  are identical and interchangeable between their first and second positions, as desired. The brackets  12  and  14  are each formed of a tubular vertical member  26 , with a tubular horizontal member  28  extending from one end thereof. A plate or wall-gripping angle  30  extends from the distal end of the horizontal member  28  to hook over the top plate T opposite the vertical member  26  to capture the wall W between the angle  30  and vertical member  26 . The two components  26  and  28  may be formed of square or round cross section stock, as desired, and may be formed of steel, aluminum, or other suitable material as desired.  
         [0019]     The angle  30  is formed of a compatible material to that used for the other two components  26  and  28 . The angle  30  may be elongated, with one flange attached medially to the distal end of horizontal member  26  and the other flange depending from the distal end of horizontal member, presenting elongated surfaces for greater surface area contact with the top and inner faces of the top plate T, thereby assuring that vertical member  26  is supported normal to, and offset from, the top plate T. The three components  26  through  30  may be welded together, as shown in  FIG. 2 , or otherwise permanently and securely fastened together, as desired.  
         [0020]     Each of the vertical members includes at least one (preferably two) hole(s) formed laterally therethrough, for the installation of bolt(s)  32 , hitch pins, etc. for the removable attachment of the upper end of the corresponding scaffold pole thereto. The scaffold poles are also preferably formed of a suitable metal material, e.g., steel or aluminum, and are formed or shaped to fit closely within the interior shape or passage of the vertical members  26  of the top plate or wall hangers  12  and  14 .  
         [0021]     Each of the horizontal members  28  of the hangers  12  and  14  also includes a passage  34  formed laterally through its distal end. This passage  34  may be used for different purposes, with one purpose being to lift or pull the scaffold assembly into place over a previously raised wall structure. To accomplish this, a hitch pin  36 , or bolt, etc., is inserted through the passage  34  and a rope R, or cable, etc., is secured to the pin  36 . The rope R is passed over the top plate T of the wall W and used to pull the scaffold assembly  10  into position from the opposite side of the wall W. The scaffold assembly  10  may be positively secured in position by a nail N ( FIG. 3 ) or other suitable fastener temporarily driven into the top plate T through a nail hole  38  formed through the top plate grip angle  
         [0022]     The passage  34  may also be used for the temporary attachment of a diagonal brace thereto.  FIG. 3  illustrates the attachment of a diagonal brace  40  to the installed wall hanging scaffold assembly  10  to brace the otherwise poorly supported wall W while construction is underway. In  FIG. 3 , the scaffold assembly  10  is supported by the top plate T of the wall W, with the vertical member  26  and a portion of the horizontal member  28  of the top plate hanger bracket  12  and corresponding scaffold pole  16  being suspended over or along the outer side of the wall W. The outward load of the scaffold assembly  10 , along with any workers and/or equipment thereon, could produce a sufficient outward load on the wall W to pull the wall W down in its unsupported state before construction has been completed. Accordingly, a diagonal brace  40 , comprising an angle, tube, or other suitable stock of aluminum, steel, or other suitable material, is pinned to the distal end of the hanger bracket horizontal member  28  and extended downwardly and inwardly into the building and secured temporarily to the floor or subfloor F of the structure. A hinge  42  may be bolted, welded, or otherwise secured to the distal end of the diagonal brace  40 , to adjust for different angles of the brace  40  according to the height of the top plate T above the floor F. One or more nails N or other suitable fasteners may be driven through one or more of the conventional holes provided in the free leaf of the hinge  42 , to secure the brace  40  temporarily in place.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  also illustrates the attachment of the platform support brace  20  to its corresponding scaffold pole  16 . Each platform support brace  20  and  22  comprises a vertical member  44  disposed parallel to its corresponding scaffold pole  16  or  18  when the brace is installed thereon, and a horizontal member  46  and diagonal member  48  extending away from the wall W when the scaffold assembly is installed thereon. The vertical member  44  is disposed between the first end  50  of the horizontal member  46  and the opposite first end  52  of the diagonal member  48 , with the first end  54  of the vertical member  44  being permanently and immovably affixed (welded, etc.) to the first end  50  of the horizontal member  46 , and the opposite second end  56  of the vertical member  44  being permanently and immovably affixed to the first end  52  of the diagonal member  48 . The opposite distal second ends  58  and  60  of the horizontal and diagonal members  46  and  48  are permanently and immovably affixed to one another, to complete the rigid, monolithic, triangular periphery of each of the platform support braces  20  and  22 . An additional intermediate horizontal brace member  62  may be installed between the vertical member  44  and the diagonal member  48  to provide further rigidity to the platform support braces  20  and  22 , and also to serve as a step for workers using the scaffold assembly  10  (the brace member  62  may have a non-skid material applied thereto, as desired).  
         [0024]     The various components  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and  62  may be formed of square or round tubular metal stock (e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.), and/or may alternatively be formed of angle stock, as desired. The first ends  50  and  52  of the horizontal and diagonal members  46  and  48  each include an attachment bracket, respectively  64  and  66 , extending therefrom. The brackets  64  and  66  each comprise a generally U-shaped component or yoke, which fits around three sides of the corresponding scaffold pole when the platform support brace is installed thereon. Each scaffold pole  16  and  18  includes a series of platform height adjustment holes  68  therethrough (shown in FIG.  3 ), allowing each of the platform support braces  20  and  22  to be installed upon the corresponding scaffold pole  16  and  18  at the desired height. A hitch pin  36  or the like, similar to the pin  36  shown in  FIG. 2 , may be inserted through the support brace brackets  64  and  66  and desired height adjustment holes  68  of the scaffold poles  16  and  18  to lock the braces  20  and  22  at the desired height or position on the two poles, as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0025]     The present wall hanging scaffold assembly  10  may be temporarily installed upon walls of various thicknesses, as desired. The lengths of the horizontal members  28  of the hanger brackets  12  and  14  are preferably sufficiently long as to span an eight-inch thick wall, if necessary, and may be made even longer if so desired. However, it will be recognized that the top plate grip angle  30  of the top plate hanger bracket abuts the interior edge of the top plate T, and thus the vertical member  26  of the hanger bracket is spaced somewhat away from the exterior surface of the wall in the case of thinner walls.  
         [0026]     Accordingly, first and second lower wall standoff assemblies  70  and  72  are provided for attachment to the distal lower ends of the corresponding scaffold poles  16  and  18  in order to position the two poles substantially parallel to the wall W.  FIG. 4  provides a detailed illustration of the first standoff assembly  70 . Each standoff assembly  70  and  72  comprises a removable tubular component  74  configured to fit closely about the lower end of the corresponding scaffold pole, with a standoff bracket  76  extending therefrom and toward the wall when the assemblies  70  and  72  are properly attached to their poles  16  and  18 . The standoff bracket  76  may be formed of angle stock or other suitable material as desired. Additional reinforcement plates  78  may be installed between the tube or pipe  74  and the standoff bracket angle  76 , as required. A fastener hole  80  is provided for nailing or otherwise securing a spacer block B (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to the bracket  76  as required, depending upon the thickness of the wall W upon which the scaffold assembly  10  is installed.  
         [0027]     The tubular component  74  is preferably sufficiently long as to provide for the insertion of the end of an additional scaffold pole therein, as indicated by the secondary scaffold pole  16   a  shown in broken lines in  FIG. 4 . In this manner, the present scaffold assembly may be extended to cover multiple stories of a building under construction, if so desired. The secondary pole  16   a  may be removably secured to the standoff assembly  70 , and the standoff assembly  70  may be removably secured to the lower end of the first scaffold pole  16  by means of hitch pins  36 , similar to the hitch pin  36  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Bolts or other suitable fasteners may be used alternatively.  
         [0028]     The present wall hanging scaffold  10  may include additional safety and convenience features, as well.  FIG. 1  illustrates the installation of first and second safety posts  82  and  84  in the distal ends of the two scaffold platform braces  20  and  22 . Each brace  20  and  22  includes a vertically oriented safety post socket  86  extending from the distal joined ends of the horizontal member  46  and diagonal member  48 , opposite the corresponding scaffold poles  16  and  18  when the scaffold  10  is assembled. The safety posts  82  and  84  are deployed vertically in the corresponding sockets  86 , and secured therein e.g., by a hitch pin or the like, as in other attachments used in the assembly of the present scaffold  10 . Each of the posts  82  and  84  includes at least one (and preferably a plurality of) safety rail bracket(s)  88  extending therefrom, providing for the removable placement of a corresponding number of safety rails S thereacross.  
         [0029]     Either or both of the safety posts  82  and  84  may have a pulley  90  placed thereatop, if so desired. The pulley  90  includes a plug base extending from its sheave, with the plug base being removably inserted into the upper end of the safety post  82  and/or  84 . The pulley  90  facilitates the lifting of materials and equipment from the surface below the scaffold platform  24 , up to the scaffold platform  24  and working height.  
         [0030]     In conclusion, the present wall hanging scaffold assembly greatly facilitates the erection and installation of scaffolding on a building under construction. The relatively small size of the hanger components allows them to be placed in position and to remain in place until construction is well along, up to the point where the eaves must be closed in. The present wall hanging scaffold is also quite versatile, with provision for additional lengths for multiple story installations and for adjusting the height of the platforms along the vertical scaffold poles. The rigid, monolithic construction of the triangular platform support braces also facilitates assembly at the worksite, yet the entire scaffold structure disassembles for storage in a relatively compact area. Accordingly, the present wall hanging scaffold will prove to be a most popular tool among contractors and others who have need of such a device.  
         [0031]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.