Patent Publication Number: US-5158023-A

Title: Scaffold table for sheet rock finishers

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to tables for temporary attachment to a scaffold and particularly to tables for use in sheet rock finishing and other applications employing a variety of bladed tools. 
     2. Prior Art 
     A wide variety of attachment devices for use on window ledges and the like are known to the prior art. None of these, however, are specifically adapted to hold tools and, in particular, those tools used in masonry and related crafts. Tools used in jobs such as sheet rock finishing employ thin and wide moderately flexible metal blades for use with plaster and the like. 
     What is needed in particular is a table with pivotal, adjustable length legs specifically adapted to fit onto the horizontal members or rungs of a scaffold. Such a table should have means for holding masonry tools and other apparatus and be constructed so that it can be moved upwardly or downwardly on the scaffold rungs while maintaining the tools secured into position so that they will not fall off or become misplaced. None of the window chairs or the like known to the prior art are satisfactory in providing all the features needed and the features especially needed in masonry work with its unique tools. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a table adapted for removable attachment to a scaffold including a planar base having a front portion, a rear edge, and two side edges, the front portion being formed as a hook member for removably attaching the table to a horizontal member of a scaffold, a pair of spaced apart legs having opposite end portions, a channel means attached to one end portion of each leg for engagement with another lower horizontal member of a scaffold, and attachment means connecting another end portion of each leg to the base, and the base further including cradle means for removably mounting a plurality of bladed tools therein. 
     In other aspects of the invention the cradle means includes at least one wall member spaced away from one edge of the base. Preferably the cradle means includes a first U-shaped wall attached to and extending downwardly from the base along the rear edge and side edges and a second U-shaped wall spaced away from the first wall and defining a slot therebetween, and spacer means for attaching the second wall to the first wall. The spacer means includes a plurality of spacer elements, each element being sized to allow passage of a blade of a masonry tool through the slot and inhibit passage of a handle of such tool therethrough. The second wall is attached to the first wall by the spacer means to position the upper edge of the second wall above the plane of the base to inhibit movement of objects off the base. The hook member includes an elongated wall extending downwardly from the plane of the base. 
     Further aspects of the invention are seen where the cradle means includes a first U-shaped wall extending downwardly from the rear edge along the length thereof and side edges substantially the length thereof and a second U-shaped wall spaced away from the first wall and defining a U-shaped slot therebetween and spacer means for attaching the second wall to the first wall. The hook member includes an elongated wall extending downwardly from the front edge and an area of the base adjacent thereto, the spacers positioned on the side edges and not on the rear edge so that the portion of the slot adjacent the rear edge is open throughout the length thereof. Each said leg includes adjustable means for varying its length to accommodate for various spaced horizontal members of a scaffold and each such means includes a pair of telescoping elements for selectively adjusting the length thereof and means for releasably securing the pair of elements in position at selected lengths. The attachment means includes pivot means for pivotally mounting each leg to the base. The base has at least on opening formed therethrough which is proportioned to removably secure a portion of a tool placed therein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the scaffold table in accord with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the table shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the table of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the table in FIG. 1 illustrating the construction of the table legs; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the table of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of part of the table illustrating the placement of attachments to the table; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the table of FIG. 1 in use as mounted onto the rungs of a scaffold. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, the base of the scaffold table or tray is depicted at numeral 10 in FIG. 1 and consists of a planar aluminum sheet generally rectangular in shape. A cradle means for masonry tools includes the U-shaped border wall 11 which extends the length of the rear edge of base 10 and substantially the length of the two side edges. Spacers 12 position wall 11 away from the base 10 a sufficient amount to define an elongate U-shaped slot that can be conveniently divided into two side slots 13 and a rear slot 14 for ease of illustration and discussion. The spacers 12 are sized to provide that the distance between base 10 and wall 11 is sufficient to allow passage of the planar blade therethrough but to prohibit the passage of the body of handle therethrough so that the slots 13, 14 can be used for temporary tool storage. Preferably, spacers 12 are not mounted across slot 14 so that the slot 14 is open its entire length. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the scaffold table also includes a pair of spaced apart telescoping legs 15 constructed of two tubular elements 15&#39;, 15&#34; that are secured into position at a desired length via passageways 17 and bolt 18 as understood in the art. Channels 20 on the ends of legs 15 are sections of angle members welded thereon and adapted to be placed against a scaffold bar member as will be discussed hereinbelow. The other end of each leg 15 is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the table assembly via a pin or rod 16 which preferably is a simple bolt (see also FIG. 5). 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the table assembly illustrating the formation of an elongate hook member 19 defined by the front subtending wall 21 and the adjacent portion 31 of the base 10. The hook member 19 is adapted to fit over a horizontal bar member of a scaffold. As can be seen, the sides of the border wall 11 that run parallel to the side edges of the base 10 extend substantially the length of the edges thereof but terminate adjacent base portion 31 to cooperate with hook member 19. The forward edges 23 of wall 11 are also sloped to fit against the scaffold bar to limit motion of the table when it is attached to the scaffold (see FIG. 4 also). Spacers 22 are used to provide reinforcement and are sized to define the transverse distance across the side slots 13 as are spacers 12. 
     The walls 21 that subtend downwardly from the edges of the base 10 are preferably formed, with base 10, from a single piece of aluminum as understood in the art. This construction provides a structure to which border wall 11 and legs 15 can be attached via rivets 24 and pivot rods 16 respectively and also provides that slots 13 and 14 have planar walls to secure a flat-bladed masonry tool therein. 
     FIG. 5 also illustrates many of the construction details of the scaffold table. Bottom framing members 25 are welded and riveted into place on bottom surface 10&#39; via welds 27 and rivets 26. The members 25 provide strength so that base 10 can support paint and plaster cans and the like. Pivot rod 16 is mounted onto bracket 28 via rivets 29 and welds 30. The passageway 32 is cut into base 10 and is sized to house a power tool such as a drill or nail gun. It is to be understood that more than one passageway can be formed in the base 10 as appropriate in the circumstances. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the use of slots 13 and 14 for the mounting of brackets 33 and 34 which support additional apparatus such as shelf 35 having a plurality of holes 36 formed therethrough for holding a wide variety of tools therein. A standard masonry tool 41 includes a handle 42 and a thin and wide blade 43. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a standard scaffold 37 having upright posts 38 and a deck 39. Transverse bar members 40 are welded to posts 38 as understood in the art. The table is mounted by placing leg channels 20 against a bar 40 and placing hook member 19 over another bar 40 as illustrated. Legs 15 are adjustable in length to accomodate different scaffold dimensions. 
     Border wall 11 is attached to the base 10 in a manner to provide that the upper edge of the wall is above the horizontal plane of the base 10. This arrangement inhibits the accidental movement of the cans or tools off the base surface. In addition, spacers 12 and 23 are placed only on the sides of the table 10 so that rear slot 14 is open along its entire length so as to accomodate tools 41 that have an extremely wide blade 43. The distance across the slots 13 and 14 is such that a blade 43 will fit therethrough through but a handle 42 will not. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.