Patent Publication Number: US-2010122872-A1

Title: Scaffold elevator

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit of the filing date of and right to priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/115,158 filed Nov. 17, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of masonry. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the field of construction, scaffolds are regularly utilized to enable workers to work at height. Each stage of the scaffold typically makes provision for the suspension of planks or other decking elements, to provide large, stable platforms within the scaffold at spaced-apart elevations. As well, a plurality of mounting holes are provided on the scaffold frames, to permit brackets for suspending planks or other decking elements to be installed on the scaffold exterior at periodic heights intermediate the platform intervals. In masonry use, brackets are typically installed on the scaffold exterior to support work platforms at an elevation which renders it relatively convenient for the mason to practice his or her trade. The exterior work platforms are removed and reinstalled from time to time, as work progresses, to maintain a convenient working height for the masons. Typically, laborers load stores of building materials, i.e. bricks, blocks or stones, onto the interior platform nearest the exterior platform on which the mason is situated, and transfer building material therefrom as needed to the platform of the mason, to keep the mason productively engaged. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An elevator system, for use by a mason with a scaffold structure, forms one aspect of the invention. This elevator system comprises lifts, decks and benches. 
     The lifts, in use, are disposed in a group and secured to said scaffold structure in horizontally-spaced relation to one another to define therebetween one or more intermediate locations alongside said scaffold structure. Each lift includes: a rail secured in use to said scaffold structure to stand upright; a shuttle mounted for constrained movement along the rail; a winch rigidly mounted to the shuttle for movement therewith; and a cable extending from a location proximal to the top of the rail to the winch such that actuation of the winch to coil the cable thereon draws the shuttle upward. 
     The decks, in use, are provided one for each intermediate location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate location to provide a platform upon which said mason can stand while building. 
     The benches, in use, are provided one for each intermediate location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate location to provide a surface, elevated in relation to the deck provided for said each intermediate location, from which said mason can retrieve materials for building. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the winches can be electric and, in use, the winches of the group can be switched for movement in concert. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, in each lift, the shuttle can be mounted to the rail by rollers carried by the shuttle and captured by the rail. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, in each lift, the rail can include a plurality of holes spaced apart along its length and the shuttle can carry a safety device which is spring-biased for movement in a manner such that, in use, the safety device rides over the holes during upward movement of the shuttle but, upon commencement of downward movement of the shuttle, engages the first of the holes that it meets, unless externally restrained against said spring-biased movement, to arrest further downward movement of the shuttle. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the group can be a group of three or more lifts arranged such that the platforms collectively define a walkway alongside said scaffold structure. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the walkway can have two straight lengths arranged in perpendicular to one another, for laying a building inside corner. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the system can further comprise elements adapted for mounting to the shuttles to serve as safety railings at the ends of the walkway. 
     Forming another aspect of the invention is an elevator system for use by a mason with a scaffold structure. This scaffold structure is of the type formed of: standard frame structures, each including a pair of parallel standards rigidly connected to one another; and standard cross-braces, each brace rigidly connecting and supporting a pair of adjacent frame structures such that the standards are upright. 
     This system includes lifts, standard deck elements and standard bench elements. 
     The lifts, in use, are provided one for each of a group of two or more adjacent frame structures in said scaffold structure. Each lift includes a rail secured in use in sistered relationship to a standard of the frame structure for which it is provided. The rails define therebetween one or more intermediate locations alongside the scaffold structure. Each lift further includes: a shuttle mounted for constrained movement along the rail; a winch mounted to the shuttle for movement therewith; and a cable extending from a location proximal to the top of the rail to the winch such that actuation of the winch to coil the cable thereon draws the shuttle upward. 
     The standard deck elements, in use, are provided one for each intermediate location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate location to provide a platform upon which said mason can stand while building. 
     The standard bench elements, in use, are provided one for each intermediate location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate location to provide a surface, elevated in relation to the deck provided for said each intermediate location, from which said mason can retrieve materials for building. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the lifts, in use, can be provided one for each of a grouping of three adjacent standards in said scaffold structure to flank adjacent, perpendicular sides of said scaffold structure, with two of the lifts disposed on one of the perpendicular sides and the third lift disposed on the other of the perpendicular sides. As well, the system can further comprise extended-length deck elements, standard bench elements, filler elements, corner brackets and filler shelves. 
     The extended-length deck elements, in use, are provided one for each grouping, each extended-length deck element being secured, in use, to the shuttles of the parallel lifts of said each grouping to provide a platform along the one perpendicular side flanked by said each grouping which cantilevers beyond the other of the perpendicular sides flanked by said each grouping. 
     The standard bench elements, in use, are provided one for each grouping, each standard bench element being secured, in use, to the shuttles of the parallel lifts of said each grouping to provide a surface, elevated in relation to the platform along the one particular side, from which said mason can retrieve materials for building. 
     The filler elements, in use, are provided one for each grouping, each filler element being secured, in use, to the shuttle of the third lift of said each grouping and supported by the extended-length deck element provided for said each grouping to provide a platform alongside the other of the perpendicular sides flanked by said each grouping. 
     The corner brackets are provided one for each grouping, each corner bracket, in use, being rigidly secured to the shuttle of the lift adjacent to the third lift of said each grouping. 
     The filler shelves are provided one for each grouping, each filler shelf, in use, being rigidly secured to the shuttle of the third lift of said each grouping and supported by the corner bracket provided for said each grouping, to provide a surface alongside the other of the perpendicular sides flanked by said each grouping from which said mason can retrieve materials for building. 
     Forming yet another aspect of the invention is a scaffold system for use by a mason. This system comprises frame assemblies, cross-braces, shuttles, winches, cables, standard deck elements and standard bench elements. 
     The frame assemblies each include a pair of rigidly-connected parallel rails. 
     In use, each cross-brace rigidly connects and supports a pair of adjacent frame assemblies such that the rails thereof stand upright in horizontally-spaced relation to one another. 
     The shuttles, in use, are provided one for each rail in a group of two or more adjacent rails and mounted for constrained movement therealong, the group of two or more adjacent rails defining therebetween one or more intermediate locations. 
     The winches, in use, are provided one for each rail in the group and mounted for movement with the shuttle mounted to said each rail. 
     The cables, in use, are provided one for each rail in the group, each extending from a location proximal to the top of the rail for which it is provided to the winch mounted to said each rail such that actuation of the winch to coil the cable thereon draws the shuttle upward. 
     The standard deck elements, in use, are provided one for each intermediate location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate location to provide a platform upon which said mason can stand while building. 
     The standard bench elements, in use, are provided one for each intermediate location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate location to provide a surface, elevated in relation to the deck provided for said each intermediate location, from which said mason can retrieve materials for building. 
     As yet another aspect of the invention, in the lifts, the winches can be rigidly mounted to one of the rail and the shuttle and the cable can extending from the winch to the other of the rail and the shuttle such that actuation of the winch to coil the cable thereon draws the shuttle upward. 
     Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art scaffold structure; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the structure of  FIG. 1  in use with an exemplary embodiment of the elevator system of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the structure of  FIG. 1  in use with another exemplary embodiment of the elevator system of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side detail view of the structure of  FIG. 2 , disposed against a masonry wall; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front detail view of the structure of  FIG. 2 , with the guardrail components removed, for clarity; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a portion of the structure of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a enlarged, partial view of encircled structure  8  of  FIG. 6 , with the guardrail elements shown; 
         FIG. 9  is a view, similar to  FIG. 7 , showing another application of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a portion of the structure of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a partial front view of the structure of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a view of the various components of the system in isolation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT 
     An elevator system  20  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in attached  FIGS. 2-12 , in use with a scaffold structure  22  of the general type that is shown in isolation in  FIG. 1 . 
     With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , the scaffold structure  22  shown therein is of conventional construction and forms no part of the invention, but for clarity in the following description should be understood to be of the type foimed of standard frame structures  24 , standard cross-braces  26  and planks  27 . 
     The standard frame structures  24  each include a pair of parallel standards  28  rigidly connected to one another. As shown, the frame structures  24  are of the “arch” type, with spaced-apart welded steel ladders  30  defining the sides of the frame structures  24 , a truss arrangement  32  defining the top of the frame structure  24 , and an open central area  34  beneath the arch defined by the top and sides. The planks  27  are set upon the truss arrangements  32  to define interior platforms  40 . For greater certainty, it is herein clarified that in  FIG. 1 , four “stages” of scaffolding are shown [2 in height, 2 in length]. 
     Each cross-brace  26  is formed of a pair of tubular steel elements pivotally connected to one another. In use, the cross-braces  26  are arranged to rigidly connect and support a pair of adjacent frame structures  24  such that the standards  28  thereof are upright. 
     With general reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , the elevator system  20  itself will be understood to comprise lifts  44 , decks  46  and benches  48 . 
     The lifts  44  indicated generally in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  will, with reference to  FIG. 5 , each be seen to include a rail  50 , a shuttle  52 , a winch  54  and a cable  56 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the rail  50  is a length of Unistrut P1000 T channel. The shuttle  52  has a pair of spaced-apart parallel arms  58  and is mounted to and for constrained movement along the rail  50  by rollers  60  carried by the shuttle  52  and captured by the rail  50 . The winch  54  is electric and is rigidly mounted to the shuttle  52  for movement therewith. The cable  56  extends from a location proximal to the top of the rail  50  to the winch  54  such that actuation of winch  54  to coil the cable  56  thereon draws the shuttle  52  towards the top of the rail  50 . 
     The decks  46  are of a depth sufficient to permit a person to stand thereon. 
     The benches  48  are of a depth sufficient to stack building materials such as brick, block or stone, thereon. 
     In one application of the invention, as shown in FIGS.  2  and  4 - 6 , a group of the lifts  44  are secured to the scaffold structure  22  in horizontally-spaced relation to one another to define therebetween one or more intermediate locations  58  alongside said scaffold structure  22 . To provide this, the rails  50  are secured in use via wedge clamps  61  in sistered relationship to standards  28  of the frame structures  24  to form frame assemblies, wherein the rails  50  are upright. 
     In this application, standard deck elements  62  are provided one for each intermediate location  58  and supported by the shuttles  52  flanking said each intermediate location  58  such that the deck  46  defined by the deck element(s)  62  provides (i) a platform upon which a mason can stand while building and (ii) an elongate walkway along the length of the wall. Similarly, standard bench elements  64  are provided one for each intermediate location  58  and supported by the shuttles  52  flanking said each intermediate location  58  such that the bench  48  provides a surface, elevated in relation to the deck  46 , from which a mason standing on the platform can retrieve materials for building. 
     Pins  104  are used to secure the elements together. 
     The winches  54  of the group are, in use, gang-switched for movement in concert, such that the shuttles  52 , winches  54 , standard deck elements  62  and standard bench elements  64  move in unison, to define an elevator arrangement for transporting the platform to any desired height, without the need for laborious removal and replacement of the building materials, planks and brackets with each move, as demanded in the prior art. 
     For safety, in each lift  44 , rail  50  includes a plurality of holes  66  [best seen in  FIG. 6 ] spaced apart along its length and shuttle  52  carries a safety device  68  [best seen in  FIG. 5 ] biased by a spring  70  for movement in a manner such that the safety device  68  rides over the holes  66  during upward movement of the shuttle  52  but, upon commencement of downward movement of the shuttle  52 , engages the first of the holes  66  that it meets, unless externally restrained [i.e. tied back] against said spring-biased movement, to arrest further downward movement of the shuttle  52 . When the elevator is intended to be lowered, the building materials and mason are vacated therefrom, the safety devices withdrawn and physically restrained against said spring-biased movement [i.e., tied back] and the winches are actuated in unison to lower the assembly. 
     Also shown in the Figures are elements  72  which are mounted to the shuttles  52  in use, to serve as safety railings at the ends of the walkway/platform. Yet further adding safety are outrigger assemblies  100  and lateral support arms  102  that stabilize the scaffold  22 . 
     Another application is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7 . In this application, the lifts  44  are provided one for each of a grouping of three [or more] adjacent standards in said scaffold structure to flank adjacent, perpendicular sides of the scaffold structure, with two of the lifts disposed on one of the perpendicular sides  74  and the third lift disposed on the other  76  of the perpendicular sides. Also provided, for the group, is an extended-length deck element  78 , a filler element  80 , a corner bracket  82 , a standard bench element  64  and a filler shelf  84 . 
     The extended-length deck element  78  is secured, in use, to the shuttles of the parallel lifts to provide a platform on the one perpendicular side  74  which cantilevers beyond the other 76 of the perpendicular sides. The filler element  80  is secured to the shuttle of the third lift and is supported by the extended-length deck element  78  to provide a platform alongside the other  76  of the perpendicular sides. Together, the extended-length deck element  78  and the filler element  80  define a walkway having two straight lengths arranged perpendicular to one another, for use by the mason when laying a building inside corner. The standard bench element  64  is secured, in use, to the shuttles of the parallel lifts to provide a bench on the one perpendicular side  74 . The corner bracket  82  is rigidly secured to the shuttle of the lift adjacent to the third lift. The filler shelf  84  is rigidly secured to the shuttle of the third lift of said each grouping and supported by the corner bracket  82  to provide a surface alongside the other of the perpendicular sides  76  from which said mason can retrieve materials for building. 
     Yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 9-11 . In this application, the lifts  44  are provided one for each of a grouping of two adjacent standards  44  in said scaffold structure. Also provided, for the group, is an extended-length deck element  78 , a standard bench element  64 , a safety rail adapter  88 , a safety rail bracket  90  and a pair of chains  92 . The extended-length deck element  78  is secured, in use, to the shuttles of the parallel lifts to provide a platform which cantilevers beyond one of the shuttles to a desired extent [the deck element  78  is telescopic, in the manner of a sliding door or the like, such that the cantilever is adjustable]. The standard bench element  64  is secured, in use, to the shuttles of the parallel lifts to provide a bench. The safety rail adapter  88  is secured to the end of the deck element  78 , to provide a safety railing at the end of the deck element  78 . The safety rail bracket  90  is secured to the lift beyond which the deck element is cantilevered, and the chains  92  are suspended between adapter  88  and bracket  90 , to provide railing elements. This embodiment of the invention is useful for cladding structures with underhangs or the like. 
     Although only three embodiments of the present invention are herein shown and described, it will be evident that numerous variations may be made. 
     For example, whereas the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 and 3  each include three lifts, arranged, respectively, in linear and perpendicular fashion, greater or lesser numbers of lifts may be deployed. 
     As well, whereas the invention is illustrated as an aftermarket item, for use with conventional scaffolds, custom frame assemblies could be created, wherein rails could take the place in the scaffold frame structures of the standards; but for this change, the system would be substantially identical in form and function to the embodiments disclosed, and thus, neither illustrations nor detailed description are provided nor viewed as necessary for the purpose of enablement. 
     Additionally, whereas in the exemplary embodiments, the shuttles carry the winches, and the cables are secured to the rails, persons of ordinary skill would readily appreciate that the winches could be carried by, for example, the rails, with the cables secured to the shuttles. 
     Yet further modifications are also possible. Accordingly, the present invention should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.