Patent Publication Number: US-2005121258-A1

Title: Scaffold and access brace for same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to the field of construction structures. More specifically, the present invention relates to scaffolds, scaffold braces, and the ready access to scaffold platforms.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Scaffolds are utilized to support platforms thus enabling workers to perform tasks at elevated levels. Scaffolds are formed of vertical posts connected across the width of the scaffold by horizontally disposed bearers. The vertical posts may also be connected across the length of the scaffold by horizontally disposed runners, and may be cross connected together by laterally extending scaffold supports. The vertical posts are typically equipped with screw jacks which can be operated to adjust the elevation of the posts.  
      Section 1926.451(g) of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulations for Construction requires fall protection for employees on scaffolds that are more than ten feet above a lower level. Specific to the present invention, employees are to be protected by a guardrail system surrounding the platform of a scaffold.  
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary prior art scaffold  20 . As shown, scaffold  20  is formed from a frame arrangement  24  that includes a first bearer  26  extending between a first pair of vertical posts  28 , and a second bearer  30  extending between a second pair of vertical posts  32 . Scaffold  20  further includes a platform  34  supported by first and second bearers  26  and  30 , respectively. In this exemplary scenario, platform  34  is represented by a single plank or aluminum element having end hooks  36  that engage with first and second bearers  26  and  30 , respectively. Only one plank of platform  34  is shown for simplicity of illustration. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that platform  34  may be formed from several planks to fill the width of scaffold  20 . Scaffold  20  further includes additional frame elements, cross bracing, base plates, various fasteners, and so forth known to those skilled in the art.  
      A guardrail system  38  surrounds all open sides of platform  34  as specified under the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29 (29CFR), Section 1926.451(g) Safety and Health Regulations for Construction. Guardrail system  38  generally includes top rails  40  and midrails  42 . Posts (i.e., upright supports  44 ) support top rails  40  and midrails  42 . In order to access platform  34  of scaffold  20  with guardrail system  38 , a user may climb a ladder  46  resting against scaffold  20 . The user then crawls through or over top rails  40  and/or midrails  42 . Such a situation creates a fall hazard for the user who is attempting to climb over or through the rails.  
      Under 29CFR, Section 1926.34(a), exits in every building or structure shall be so arranged and maintained as to provide free and unobstructed egress from all parts of the building or structure at all times when it is occupied. Guardrail systems surrounding a scaffold platform directly violate this section of the OSHA Regulations for Construction. However, free and unobstructed egress from a scaffold platform is considered a manufacturers defect, and is presently considered acceptable. Nevertheless, it is still the employer&#39;s responsibility to protect employees from potential fall hazards.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention that an access brace is provided for a scaffold that enables the use of a guardrail system.  
      It is another advantage of the present invention that an access brace is provided that forms an opening in the guardrail system through which a user can readily access a scaffold platform while not violating OSHA regulations for construction.  
      Yet another advantage of the present invention is that an access brace is provided that is easily engaged with an existing scaffold and an existing guardrail system for the scaffold.  
      The above and other advantages of the present invention are carried out in one form by an access brace for a scaffold. The scaffold includes a pair of bearers, a platform supported by the pair of bearers, and a guardrail system for surrounding the platform. The access brace includes an elongate member having a first end and a second end. First engaging means is coupled to the first end, and second engaging means is coupled to the second end. The first and second engaging means are configured to engage with the pair of bearers. A post extends from an intermediate portion of the elongate member, the post being configured to couple with an upright support of the guardrail system.  
      The above and other advantages of the present invention are carried out in another form by a scaffold that comprises a frame arrangement including a first bearer extending between a first pair of vertical posts, and a second bearer extending between a second pair of vertical posts. A platform is supported by the first and second bearers. The scaffold further comprises an access brace including an elongate member having a first end and a second end, a first end hook coupled to the first end and engaged with the first bearer, a second end hook coupled to the second end and engaged with the second bearer, and a post extending from an intermediate portion of the elongate member, the post being located a predetermined distance from the first end. A guardrail system surrounds the platform. The guardrail system includes an upright support coupled with the post. The predetermined distance defines an opening in the guardrail system for access to the platform. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:  
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary prior art scaffold;  
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective front view of an access brace for a scaffold in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  shows an enlarged perspective rear view of a portion of the access brace of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  shows a partial front view of a scaffold that has been configured to include the access brace of  FIG. 2 ; and  
       FIG. 5  shows a partial perspective view of another scaffold that includes the access brace of  FIG. 2 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 ,  FIG. 2  shows a perspective front view of an access brace  48  for a scaffold in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  shows an enlarged perspective rear view of a portion of access brace  48 . Access brace  48  serves to form an opening in a guardrail system of a scaffold through which a user can readily access a scaffold platform, such as platform  34  ( FIG. 1 ) while not violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulations for Construction. Access brace  48  may be easily engaged with an existing scaffold, such as scaffold  20  ( FIG. 1 ), and an existing guardrail system for the scaffold. Alternatively, access brace  48  may be an integral component of a scaffold system. Access brace  48  is described herein in connection with scaffold  20  for clarity of illustration. However, access brace  48  may be readily utilized with other types of scaffolding.  
      Access brace  48  includes a first elongate member  50  and a second elongate member  52  arranged substantially parallel to first elongate member  50 . Supports  54  extend between first and second elongate members  50  and  52 , respectively, for retaining first and second elongate members  50  and  52  in spaced relation. A first post  56  and a second post  58  extend vertically from an intermediate portion  60  of first elongate member  50 . Generally, supports  54  are arranged substantially perpendicular to first and second elongate members  50  and  52 , respectively, and two of supports  54  are aligned with a corresponding one of first and second posts  56  and  58 . It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that supports  54  need not necessarily be vertical, but may instead be diagonal components.  
      First elongate member  50  is characterized by a first end  62  and a second end  64 . First engaging means, in the form of a first end hook  66 , is coupled to first end  62 . Similarly, second engaging means, in the form of a second end hook  68 , is coupled to second end  64 . In a preferred embodiment, first and second end hooks  66  and  68 , respectively, are L-brackets, each having a leg portion  70  welded to one of first and second ends  62  and  64 . A body  72  of each of first and second end hooks  66  and  68 , respectively, includes an arched cutout region  74 . Arched cutout region  74  is configured to engage with one of first and second bearers,  26  and  30 , respectively ( FIG. 1 ), which will be discussed in greater detail below.  
      In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, access brace  48  includes first and second end hooks  66  and  68 , respectively, as described above. First and second end hooks  66  and  68  advantageously allow the engagement of access brace  48  to first and second bearers  26  and  30  without the need for additional components such as, bolts and toggle pins. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that different fasteners than the described end hooks may be utilized to engage access brace  48  with first and second bearers  26  and  30 , respectively.  
      Second elongate member  52  is characterized by a third end  76  and a fourth end  78 . A first bracket  80  is coupled to third end  76  of second elongate member  52 . Likewise, a second bracket  82  is coupled to fourth end  78  of second elongate member  52 . In a preferred embodiment, each of first and second brackets  80  and  82  includes a U-shaped member  84  characterized by a first leg  86  and a second leg  88  interconnected by an arcuate portion  90 . In an exemplary embodiment, first leg  86  is coupled by welding to one of third and fourth ends  76  and  78 , respectively. A pin, such as a toggle pin  92 , is directed through apertures  94  in each of first and second legs  86  and  88 , respectively. First and second brackets  80  and  82 , respectively, are configured for attachment to separate ones of vertical posts  28  and  30  ( FIG. 1 ) of scaffold  20  ( FIG. 1 ), which will be discussed in greater detail below.  
      In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, access brace  48  includes first and second brackets  80  and  82 , respectively, as described above. First and second brackets  80  and  82  are structurally robust and easily installed. The use of toggle pins  92  eliminates the need for installation tools to mount access brace  48  on scaffold  20 , and prevents the need for any physical modifications to scaffold  20  that might otherwise compromise the structural integrity of scaffold  20 . However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that different fasteners than the described toggle pins  92  may alternatively be utilized to couple first and second brackets  80  and  82 , respectively, to corresponding vertical posts  28  and  32 .  
      First post  56  is located a first distance  96  from first end  62  of first elongate member  50 , and second post  58  is located a second distance  98  from first end  62  of first elongate member  50 . In an exemplary embodiment, first distance  96  may be approximately nineteen inches from first end  62 . Second distance  98  is greater than first distance  90 . For example, with first distance  96  being approximately nineteen inches, second distance  98  may be approximately thirty-eight inches. The desired first and second distances  96  and  98 , respectively, will be discussed in greater detail below.  
      Access brace  48  may be largely manufactured from conventionally utilized one and three quarter inch steel tubing, with the exception being first and second posts  56  and  58 , respectively, which may have an outer diameter  100  of one and three eighths inch. The desired outer diameter  100  of first and second posts  56  and  58 , respectively, will be discussed in greater detail below.  
       FIG. 4  shows a partial front view of scaffold  20  that has been configured to include access brace  48 . First and second end hooks  66  and  68 , respectively, engage with first and second bearers  26  and  30 , respectively. In particular, body  72  ( FIG. 3 ) of first and second end hooks  66  and  68  seats over a corresponding one of first and second bearers  26  and  30 . Thus, the corresponding one of first and second bearers  26  and  30 , respectively, is positioned in arched cutout region  74  ( FIG. 3 ) of body  72 .  
      In addition, first bracket  80  couples to one of vertical posts  28 , while second bracket  82  couples to one of vertical posts  32 . In particular, arcuate portion  90  ( FIG. 3 ) of first and second brackets  80  and  82 , respectively, abuts a front side  102  of vertical posts  28  and  32 . Thus, first and second brackets  80  and  82 , respectively, largely surround the ones of vertical posts  28  and  32 . Separate toggle pins  92  ( FIG. 3 ) are subsequently directed through apertures  94  ( FIG. 3 ) of each of first and second brackets  80  and  82  so that first and second brackets are secured to corresponding vertical posts  28  and  32 , respectively.  
      Access brace  48  largely fits between vertical posts  28  and  32  of scaffold  20 , and provides additional structural support for scaffold  20 . As shown, when access brace  48  is coupled to scaffold  20 , first and second posts  56  and  58 , respectively, extend vertically upward from access brace  48 . First and second posts  56  and  58 , respectively, may be selectively utilized for attachment of one of upright supports  44 , i.e., a first upright support  44 ′, of guardrail system  38 .  
      In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , upright supports  44  are desirably tubular members exhibiting an inner diameter  104 . In a preferred embodiment, first and second posts  56  and  58  exhibit outer diameter  100  ( FIG. 2 ) that is smaller than inner diameter  104 . Accordingly, second post  58  fits within the tubular structure of first upright support  44 ′.  
      Second distance  98  between second post  58  and first end  62  of first elongate member  50  defines an opening  106  in guardrail system  38  for access to platform  34 . A user of scaffold  20  can access platform  34  by climbing ladder  46  and stepping onto platform  34 , without first climbing over or through top rails  40  and/or midrails  42 . As mentioned above, second distance  98  is approximately thirty-eight inches. As shown, a width of ladder  46  fills approximately one half of second distance  98 , thereby establishing an effective opening in guardrail system  38  of approximately nineteen inches. This effective opening advantageously enables a user ready access to platform  34 . In addition, this effective opening may be further utilized as an access opening when hoisting operations are taking place.  
      The effective opening complies with 29CFR Section 1926.502(b)(2)(iv) which specifies that no openings in the guardrail system are to be more than nineteen inches wide. Although not shown, an optional barrier, such as a chain, gate, or removable guardrail section, may be placed across opening  106  that is readily latched and unlatched by a user who is boarding or getting off of platform  34 .  
       FIG. 5  shows a partial perspective view of another scaffold  108  that includes access brace  48 . Access brace  48  advantageously enables a break in the guardrail system in two potential places by utilizing one of first and second posts  56  and  58  depending upon which type of ladder and scaffolding system being used. Scaffold  108  is provided to illustrate this feature of access brace  48 .  
      Scaffold  108  is formed from a frame arrangement  110  that includes a first bearer  112  extending between a first pair of vertical posts  114 , a second bearer  116  extending between a second pair of vertical posts  118 , and a platform  120  supported by first and second bearers  112  and  116 , respectively. Platform  120  is largely surrounded by a guardrail system  122  that includes top rails  124 , midrails  126 , and upright supports  128 . Scaffold  108  further includes an integral access ladder  130  coupled to one of vertical posts  114  and extending from a side  132  of scaffold  108 .  
      Access brace  48  couples to scaffold  108  in a similar manner to that which was described in connection with  FIG. 4 . Accordingly, access brace  48  largely fits between vertical posts  114  and  118  of scaffold  108 , and provides additional structural support for scaffold  108 . In this exemplary scenario, first post  56  is selectively utilized for attachment of one of upright supports  128 , i.e., a first upright support  128 ′, of guardrail system  122 .  
      First distance  96  between first post  56  and first end  62  of first elongate member  50  defines an opening  134  in guardrail system  122  along a front  136  of scaffold  108  for access to platform  120 . Thus, opening  134  is oriented at an approximate right angle relative to access ladder  130 . Like scaffold  20  ( FIG. 4 ), a user of scaffold  108  can readily access platform  120  by climbing access ladder  130  and stepping onto platform  120 , without first climbing over or through top rails  124  and/or midrails  126 , respectively. As mentioned above, first distance  96  is approximately nineteen inches. Since access ladder  130  does not fill part of opening  134 , the attachment of first upright support  128 ′ of guardrail system  122  to first post  56  enables compliance with 29CFR Section 1926.502(b)(2)(iv) which specifies that no openings in the guardrail system are to be more than nineteen inches wide.  
      In summary, the present invention teaches of an access brace for a scaffold. The end hooks and brackets of the access brace enables easy and secure engagement with an existing scaffold and an existing guardrail system. Utilization of the access brace enables an opening to be formed through the guardrail system of a scaffold. This opening enables a user to readily access a scaffold platform while complying with OSHA regulations for construction. Furthermore, the two posts of the access brace enables a break in the guardrail system in two potential places depending upon which type of ladder and scaffolding system is used.  
      Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.