Patent Publication Number: US-2012043160-A1

Title: Scaffold Storage Plank

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to scaffolding structures, and more particularly to an improved scaffold storage plank that provides a storage reservoir and a security locking device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, scaffolds, or a system of scaffolds, are made of a frame of metal tubes, bars or other beam members to form a lattice on which a plurality of scaffold planks rest. A common frame is made, for example, of one and one-half inch outer diameter tubes. The frame provides the vertical support for the planks, and the planks provide the platform upon which the workers, such as painters, masons, and carpenters, can perform their labor without worrying about continually moving ladders. The majority of the scaffold planks of the prior art are made of wood, metal, or plastic and are utilized exclusively for support purposes. What is lacking from the prior art is a scaffold plank that can be utilized both as a platform and as a means for storage. 
     Traditionally, workers on a scaffolding system would also have to bring with them a toolbox that holds the necessary tools for the job at hand. These toolboxes are often cumbersome and even dangerous because the workers can either trip over them or knock them over the plank. Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,342 by House attempts to address the issue of tool storage by providing a tray system that attaches to the scaffolding frames. Although this is a better alternative than a traditional tool box, it fails to provide a more permanent and safe storage alternative for expensive tools that can be lost or stolen during off hours. Additionally, the method of tool storage taught in House would not protect the tools from the elements and would require workers to remove the tools from the scaffolding structure at the end of each work day or during extended work breaks. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,080 by Klimas teaches of a toolbox that directly suspends on a horizontal member of the scaffolding frame. Klamas&#39;s toolbox only utilizes a two hook system to suspend on the frame of the scaffold without any other means of security. Once again, workers would have to remove this toolbox and their tools from the scaffolding structure to prevent theft during off hours. 
     Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,102 by Brown teaches of a ladder system where the individual steps each comprises of a tool box system to store a variety of tools. However, Brown fails to implement its invention toward a scaffolding system and scaffold planks Brown&#39;s invention fails to address the need to secure the tools during off hours when theft of the stored tools become a concern. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a scaffold storage plank to function as both a support platform and as tool storage capable of being securely fixed and locked onto a scaffolding frame so that workers can easily access their tools while on the scaffolding system and safely store their tools on the scaffolding system without worrying about theft. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from a consideration of the following drawings and a detailed description of the preferred embodiment. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of prior art devices and provide a relatively inexpensive scaffold plank that provides the versatility of being a support structure and a storage structure. The scaffold storage plank of the present invention allows easy access to desired tools when workers are working on top of the scaffolding structure. When the work day is finished or during extended work breaks, workers can store all their tools and supplies within the storage reservoir, close the cover and lock the storage plank onto the frame of the scaffolding structure. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved and disclosed in the preferred embodiment where the novel scaffold storage plank comprises of a plank body with a storage reservoir and a cover capable of covering the storage reservoir. In the preferred embodiment the cover is pivotally connected to the inside of the storage reservoir. A locking mechanism is used to secure the scaffold plank and the said cover in the closed position onto a scaffolding frame. 
     These and other novel features and advantages of the invention will be described in greater detail in the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above description and other objects, advantages, and features of the present embodiment will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the scaffolding system with the scaffold storage plank positioned on a portable scaffolding structure. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the scaffold storage plank with the cover in the open position. 
         FIG. 3  is the cut out view of the scaffold storage plank. 
         FIG. 4  is the front view of the scaffold storage plank with the cover closed. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of scaffold storage plank with the cover closed. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the scaffold storage plank with the cover closed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a portable and adjustable scaffolding system with multiple scaffold planks is generally depicted as element  10 . The scaffolding system  10  can have multiple planks In the preferred embodiment, the storage plank  20  contains a storage reservoir  24  while a standard plank  30  is used for support purposes only. The positions of the storage plank  20  and standard plank  30  are interchangeable. 
       FIG. 2  shows the storage plank  20  comprised of a cover  22  for covering the body of the storage plank  25  and storage reservoir  24 . The storage plank body  25  comprise of multiple notches  28  on both sides of the body used to set and secure the storage plank  20  onto a scaffolding frame  50 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the cover  22  is pivotally connected to the plank body  25  by multiple locking spring hinges  26  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The locking spring hinges  26  allow the cover  22  to stay in the open position even in an elevated environment where the wind may be particularly strong. This allows workers to add and remove tools without the risk of the cover accidentally closing on the hands of the worker. The locking spring hinge  26  also prevents the cover  22  from accidentally opening while in the closed position due to wind or vibration.  FIG. 4  shows the storage plank  20  with the cover  22  in the closed position. When closed, the storage plank  20  functions as intended as a work bench or support structure for the workers. 
     A key novelty of the present invention is the ability to lock the entire storage plank  20  with the cover  22  closed and secured to the scaffolding fixture  10  to prevent theft. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, attached to the bottom side of the cover  22  are two latch bars  21 . On the body of the plank are two latch holes  23  positioned on both side of the notch  28  and sized to allow the latch bars  21  to fit through the body of plank when the cover  22  is in its closed position. At the tip of each latch bar  21  is a locking hole  31  that allows a lock or chain to connect the two latch bars  21 . This combination of latch bars  21  and latch holes  31  positioned around the notch  28  allows users to secure the scaffolding frame  50  between the notch  28  and latch bars  21  when the cover  22  is in the closed position, thus locking the entire storage plank  20  onto the scaffolding frame  50 . Furthermore, the locking spring hinges  26  are secured on the inside of the storage reservoir  24  and the bottom side of the cover  22  so that in the closed and locked position, the hinges  26  act as another means of preventing the cover from being opened by unauthorized individuals. 
       FIG. 6  shows the storage plank  20  in its closed position and illustrates the positioning of the latch bars  21  around the scaffolding frame. Although in the preferred embodiment, only one side comprises of the latching bars  21 , it is understood that the latching bars  21  can be positioned on either or both sides of the plank and can be used to lock the plank to multiple locations on the scaffolding frame. 
     In the preferred embodiment the cover  22  also comprises a flange guard  27  where in its closed position further protects the storage reservoir and provides additional security against theft. Furthermore, the storage reservoir  24  in the preferred embodiment has ridges  29  horizontally positioned to allow tiered storage where a tool tray  40  can rest on top of the ridge  29 . The tool tray  40  is independent and can be removed. In the preferred embodiment, the storage plank  20  is constructed out of light weight steel or suitable material and the tool tray  40  is made of a plastic type material. 
     Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Persons skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific embodiment that will nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention. For example, a scaffolding system can comprise of more than one storage planks  20 . The scaffolding system can be of any type or size known in the art and need not be portable. 
     The size of the scaffold plank and the volume of the storage reservoir are not limited to any specific dimensions. The utility of the storage reservoir goes beyond just tools and can be used, depending on its size, to store construction supplies such as aluminum piping, bricks, etc. 
     The means of locking the storage plank  20  to the scaffolding fixture  50  is not limited to the latch bars  21 . For example, instead of latch bars  21 , the cover  22  may contain latch holes in parallel to the latch holes of the body, thus allowing a pad lock to secure the storage plank to the scaffolding frame in its closed position, not depicted. 
     The means of opening the cover  22  is not limited to the locking spring hinge  26 . Alternative hinges or means of opening the cover to expose the storage reservoir  24  are within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the location of the hinges can be positioned anywhere within the storage reservoir  24 , thus dictating the direction and manner in which cover  22  may be opened. Neither is there a limitation to the cover  22  being fixed in any manner to the storage reservoir  24  as it may be completely removable for access to the storage reservoir  24 . The size of cover  22  is not limited to the size of the body section; instead the cover  22  only needs to allow access to the storage reservoir  24 . The cover  22  may also contain its own locking mechanism. The storage plank  20  can be constructed of any material known in the art including metal, wood, and synthetic material. 
     Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.