Patent Publication Number: US-2005139422-A1

Title: Hanging scaffold support

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/666,111, filed on Sep. 18, 2003 and entitled HANGING SCAFFOLD SUPPORT. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      1. The Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to supporting structures for use during construction, and more particularly to novel systems and methods for supporting decking for workmen above ground level in residential or other construction projects similar in nature.  
      2. The Background Art  
      Scaffolding has long been of both utility and concern in construction. In many states as well as in federal regulations, detailed specifications of requirements apply to “riggers” and their craft. Scaffolding may be thought of as decking for supporting materiel, workmen, tools, and the like, above or below a common surface.  
      For example, a workman may stand on the ground while laying brick, working on certain woodwork, while wiring, and so forth. In construction of large, multi-storied buildings, special decking may be laid specifically for use during construction. Many feet above ground level, scaffolding built from the ground up becomes impractical. However, scaffolding may be used within a few stories&#39; distance of the ground.  
      Scaffolding presents several problems. To provide proper structural strength, scaffolding is typically quite heavy. Moreover, special rigger licensing may be required for installation and use of scaffolding. In residential construction, the commitment of time and manpower for setting up and taking down scaffolding support may represent a substantial fraction of the task for which such scaffolding is set up in the first place.  
      Ladders are limited in their utility. Ladders must be moved frequently. Ladders may not be positionable readily both inside and outside the envelope of a building at all stages of construction where scaffolding may be useful or required. The weight, bulk, manpower, lack of flexibility in application, awkwardness in working indoors or in semi-finished areas, and the like add to the difficulty and expense of using conventional scaffolding.  
      What is needed is a simplified system for supporting workmen, tools, and materials, at a distance above ground level suitable to facilitate several common tasks. For example, decking suitable for working near a top plate of a residential construction wall is necessary. A support for decking positionable to support a workman installing soffits, fascia, installing trusses, and working on other projects that cannot readily be reached from the ground, is needed.  
      A support system is needed that is easily portable. A system that can be set up and taken down in a minimum amount of time, while occupying a minimum of space during storage and transport is needed. Such a system should also provide a means to resist theft given its ease of removal and portability. The system should also be capable of extending over a substantial working area upon deployment as needed. Likewise needed is a system that can be set up by a single workman and easily lowered to the ground when finished. Adjustability in height, length, distance from a bearing wall, and the like are preferable.  
      Preferably, such a system can hang from a top plate of a wall. It should adjust to a variety of widths of top plates. Simple removal from the top plate after closure of soffits, sheathing, Frieze blocks, and the like about walls and ceilings would be very useful. It would be of further utility to provide a system that is adjustable to accommodate a variety of top plate widths while at the same time not having an adjustment member that will not interfere with structures that may be present near the top plate. Such a system should also be positionable to rest on a top plate despite Frieze blocks, which are typically positioned between eaves and a top plate, leaving limited space to insert any support structure for a scaffold or the like.  
      A system is needed that does not require significant penetrations into a structure, and which can be used on both interior and exterior to a bearing wall of a house or other structure. A system that could be used even when a building in initial stages of framing, and yet during stages of semi-finished condition inside or outside a wall, would be beneficial. A system is needed that is easily operable (e.g. adjustable, carriable, deployable, etc.) with a single hand, or by a single user.  
      What is needed is a deck or scaffold support that can be climbed readily by some support mechanism in order to quicky adjust the height of a deck. A system that is fail safe, by virtue of, for example, being non-separable during adjustment, does not require multiple hands or adjustment, does not require precision alignments by a user, does not require eyes of a user to be located in a difficult position for adjustment, and does not require dismantling or removal in order to be adjusted, would be extremely efficient.  
      A system that provides for plank positioning close to and distanced from a wall, selectively at the choice of a user is needed. Such a system should be able to prevent tilting and twisting of the plank substantially regardless of the position or size of the plank. A system that can be folded down for ready-storage and transport with a minimum of fitting and assembly for use would be extremely handy and present an efficient use of manpower.  
      A deck or scaffold support is needed that provides simple adjustment of deck positions vertically and operational adjustment horizontally. The ability to work on open walls comprised merely of studs, or to work on closed walls, such as buildings being remodeled, by taking advantage of openings for windows, and even perhaps to work on partially or fully covered walls, such as sided or bricked walls, would be preferred.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An apparatus and method are disclosed generally describing a scaffold support having a leg extending in a more-or-less vertical or upright direction and provided with a lateral foot extendable therefrom. The lateral foot may be connected to the leg by a climber mechanism that supports the foot in operation, while simply and safely disengaging and readjusting the height of the foot along the leg. A working surface, such as a broad plank, or the like, may rest on the lateral feet of two or more scaffold supports to support a worker during construction of a building.  
      A hanger may secure the scaffold support to a wall or window sill. A lateral beam may project from the leg and rest on a support structure, such as the top surface or top plate of a wall or a window sill, during operation of the scaffold support. A stop may secure to the lateral beam and capture a supporting structure (e.g. wall) between the stop and the leg to prevent accidental slipping or release of the lateral beam from a support structure.  
      Both the leg and the stop may secure to the lateral beam at multiple positions along the lateral beam to provide variability of the distance between the stop and the leg to accommodate support structures of varying widths. The lateral beam may have registration structures formed along its length to allow this selective securement of the leg and stop to the lateral beam at different positions. The registration structures may be holes formed in the lateral beam and spaced apart from one another. The lateral beam may slide within apertures formed in the stop and leg. Locking pins may engage the stop and leg and the apertures in the lateral beam to fix the position of the stop and leg with respect to the lateral beam.  
      Alternative embodiments may position the lateral beam beneath a support structure. A spacer may secure a loading structure to the lateral beam, spaced apart therefrom. During normal operation, a support structure may be positioned between the lateral beam and the support structure. The spacer may secure at various positions along the lateral beam to further capture a support structure between the spacer and portions of the leg extending above a lateral beam.  
      In some modes of operation of a hanger, the hanger is removed from the leg in order to facilitate insertion of the hanger where Frieze blocks, or other roofing materials, hinder its insertion. A removable hanger may be inserted from the inside of a building with the leg positioned on the outside. An elongate coupler may secure to the lateral beam and be sized to fit between a gap between a Frieze block and a support structure. During operation, the coupler may be lowered through the gap and secured to the leg without requiring that the stop and lateral beam pass through the gap.  
      Structures may be provided to facilitate securement of a working surface to a scaffold support. A catch may secure at various points along the foot to secure an edge of the deck to prevent shifting or twisting. The catch may slidably secure to the foot and have a lock to fix the position of the catch relative to the foot. In some embodiments the catch is a notch positioned to engage a flange, or the like, forming part of a deck.  
      An edge of a deck may also be secured by an eye. The eye may have an aperture sized to receive a tether or cable for securing the apparatus against theft. A portion of the eye may extend over an edge of a deck (or flange of a beam of the deck) to prevent the edge from rising during use. In some embodiments, a scaffold support may be provided with both a catch and an eye. A deck may be positioned between the catch and the eye to restrain both edges of the deck and prevent shifting, tilting, and rotation of the deck. The adjustability of the catch may allow the deck to be laid on the foot and the catch subsequently brought into position to engage the deck. A second eye may be provided at an upper end of a leg to receive a rope, or the like, for raising and lowering of the scaffold support. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The features and operation of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention may be seen in additional specificity and detail in the accompanying drawings where:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a scaffold support and working surface, in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a partial cutaway perspective view of a base and climber in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a base in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a hanger in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a hanger in operative engagement with support and roofing structures, in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a hanger in operative engagement with support and roofing structures, in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the hanger of  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a removable hanger, in accordance with the invention.  
       FIG. 9A  is a side view of a removable hanger at one stage of deployment, in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 9B  is a side view of a removable hanger positioned to secure to a scaffold support in accordance with the invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a scaffold support having an elongate stop in accordance with the invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a scaffold support having a stop for resting on a floor, in accordance with the invention; and  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a scaffold support in a stowed configuration, in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is as broad as claimed herein. The illustrations are merely representative of certain, presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Presently preferred embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus  10  may include one or more scaffold supports  12  providing one or more bases  14  for supporting a work surface  16 . The work surface  16  (or deck  16 ) may be embodied as a plank or planks made of wood, aluminum, ferrous alloy, or the like. A vertical (transverse) direction  18  may be defined as extending normal to the work surface  16 . A horizontal (lateral) direction  20  and a longitudinal direction  22  may also be defined as being parallel to the work surface  16  and perpendicular to each other.  
      A leg  24  may support the base by means of a climber  26 . The climber  26  may be permanently or removably attached to the base  14 . The climber  26  may secure to the leg  24  at a number of positions to provide height adjustability. Height adjustability may enable a work surface  16  to be positioned suitably for a particular job. Adjustability may also enable scaffold supports  12  to hang on structures of differing heights and yet support a level work surface  16 . A hanger  34  may transfer the weight of a scaffold support  12  to a supporting structure such as a window sill or the top of a wall.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the base  14  may be a beam  42  having a substantially uniform cross section, such as an ‘I’ beam, box beam, or boxed ‘I’ beam having a hollow, square central portion with flanges at the corners. The climber  26  may have flanges  44 , or other structures capable of bearing loads, secured to the beam  42  and extending beyond the near end  47  of the beam  42  a distance  46 . The ends  48  of the flanges  44  may support a registration member  50 , or registration members  50 , for supporting fixing of the position of the beam  42  with respect to the leg  24 .  
      A cross member  52  may serve as the registration member  50 , fitting into a groove or other receptacle formed on the leg  24 . In some embodiments, the cross member  52  may simply provide structural support to prevent distortion or separation of the flanges  44 . The registration members  50  may be embodied as keys  54  formed, or secured, at the points of intersection of the flanges  44  with the cross member  52 . The keys  54  may be short sections of square bars welded, or formed monolithically, at the inside corner of the intersection points. Alternatively, the keys  54  may be any protruding structure capable of insertion into a corresponding receptacle.  
      The leg  24  may be embodied as a beam  56  of substantially uniform cross section, such as an ‘I’ beam, box beam, or boxed ‘I’ beam. In embodiments of a beam  56  having an ‘I’ or boxed ‘I’ cross section, the beam  56  may have flanges  58  extending therealong. The leg  24  may extend through an aperture  59  formed by the conjoining of the flanges  44 , cross member  52 , and the beam  42 . A number of registration structures  60  may be formed along the beam  56 . The registration structures  60  may engage the registration member  50  secured to the base  14  to provide selective height adjustment. In some embodiments, the registration structures  60  may be grooves  62  sized to receive the keys  54 . The grooves  62  may be formed in the flanges  58 . Alternatively, the grooves  62  could be cut into a beam  42  without flanges  58 , such as a box beam. Boxing rigidizes a beam, and places more material nearer the “outermost fiber” to support bending loads.  
      A safety stop  64  may be fixed to the leg  24  and be positioned below the climber  26  during normal operation of the apparatus  10  in the case of accidental disengagement of the registration structures from the registration members  50 . In the illustrated embodiment, the safety stop  64  is a metal bar  66 , but may be any structure capable of preventing passage of the climber  26  thereover, such as a post, protruding bolt, bolt head, or the like.  
      Added safety may result from securing the lower end  67  of the leg  24  to part of a wall to prevent it from swaying or tipping in any way that the hanger  34  may become disengaged from a wall or other support structure. In one embodiment, an aperture  68 , or apertures  68 , may be provided in the lower end  67  to receive a nail or other such fastener to secure the leg  24  to a structure forming part of a wall. Other securement means are possible, such as a rope, zip-tie, chain, cable, rigid hook, or the like.  
      Safety regulations in some geographic regions may require that scaffolding have a rail or bannister. Accordingly, a post mount  70  may secure to the beam  42  at or near the end  71  and may receive a post  72  for supporting a bannister or rail. The post mount  70  may include a bracket  74  for attaching to the base of a post  72 . The bracket  74  may have flanges  76  each having at least one aperture  78  for receiving a locking pin  80  which may extend through both the flanges  76  and the post  72  positioned therebetween. Two locking pins  80  may be used to provide greater bearing length and prevent rotation of the post  72 . Alternatively, the base of the post  72  may be positioned close enough to the beam  42  that interference of the post  72  with the beam  42  prevents rotation, and only a single locking pin  80  is needed. Any suitable mechanism for securing the base of a post  72  may be used, such as an aperture formed directly in the beam  42  into which the post  72  inserts. Alternatively, the post  72  may secure permanently to the post mount  70  with the post mount  70  being removable from the base  14 .  
      The post mount  70  may include a slide  82  enabling the post mount to slide along the beam  42 . The slide  82  may be embodied as an aperture  84 , or channel  84 , formed in, or secured to, the bracket  74 . A lock  86  may fix the position of the slide  82  relative to the base  14 . In some embodiments the lock  86  may be a set screw  88  threaded into an aperture  90  formed in the bracket  74 . A threaded insert  92  may secure to the bracket  74  to provide greater bearing surface for the threads of the set screw  88 .  
      A stop  94  may serve to restrain a work surface  16  against certain movements. For example, a plank  96  may be positioned between the post mount  70  and the stop  94 , preventing movement of the plank  96  in the longitudinal direction  22 . The stop  94  may include a catch  98  which may surround, or extend over, a portion of a work surface  16 , such as a flange  102  of a plank  96 . In some embodiments, the stop  94  may have a slide  104  slidably secured to the beam  42 . The stop  94  may include a flange  106 , or pair of flanges  106 , with a catch  98  embodied as a notch  108 , indentation  108 , longitudinally extending arm  108 , or the like, serving to restrain the edge  102  of a plank  96 , or other structure making up the work surface  16 . In one mode of operation the stop  94  may be slid away from the post mount  70 , the work surface  16  positioned resting on the base  14 , and the stop  94  slid toward the work surface  16  until the catch  98  is positioned to restrain the work surface  16 . Thus, in embodiments where the catch  98  is a notch  108 , the edge of a plank  96  may be positioned within the notch  108 .  
      The slide  104  may be embodied as a bracket  110  substantially surrounding the beam  42 . The bracket  110  may be formed integrally or monolithically with the flange  106  or flanges  106 . A lock  112  may fix the position of the slide relative to the beam  42 . In some embodiments, the lock  112  may be embodied as a threaded aperture  114  formed in the bracket  110  for receiving a set screw  116 . In some embodiments, the bracket  110  may be made of relatively thin extruded aluminum. In such a case, a threaded insert  118  made of brass, or other suitably strong and smooth material (e.g. steel, plastic), may secure to the bracket  110  to receive the set screw  116  and increase the bearing surface between it and the bracket  110 .  
      In some embodiments, the flanges  106  may have an aperture  120  or apertures  120  for stowage of the scaffold support  12 . An aperture  120 , or apertures  120 , may receive a locking pin or the like, which may also extend through the leg  24  when positioned parallel to the base  14  for storage. The apertures  120  may also receive locking pins for securing a post  72  for supporting a rail, bannister, or the like. In still other embodiments, the post mount  70  may also include a catch  122  such as a notch  124 , or the like, to secure the flange  126  of the plank  96 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, an eye member  130  (or simply an eye  130 ) may be positioned near the far end  71  of the beam  42 . The eye member  130  or fixture  130  may have an aperture  132  extending through the fixture  130  as the eye, accessible in a horizontal (lateral) direction  20  relative to the beam  42 . The eye member  130  may extend a distance  134  in the longitudinal direction  22 , relative to the beam  42 , such that it extends over the work surface  16  or a portion of the beam underlying a working deck. The extension of the eye  130  over the work surface  16  (or supporting beam thereunder) may resist rotation of the work surface  16 .  
      The aperture  132  of the eye  130  may receive a tether  136 , such as a chain, cable, or the like. The tether  136  may be part of an anti-theft device or a redundant safety system. In some embodiments, two or more scaffold supports  12  may be tethered together through eyes  130 . The eye member  130  may be an eye bolt  130  screwed into, or bolted to, the beam  42 . Alternatively, the eye  130  may be welded to the beam  42  or secured by another adequately strong means.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , a hanger  34  may transfer the weight of an apparatus  10  to a support structure, such as the top plate of an unfinished wall. Walls may have varying widths. A hanger  34  may need to be adjustable to accommodate walls of varying widths. Furthermore, the top plate of an unfinished wall is typically near the roof of a building. Accordingly, rafters, soffits, fascia, and Frieze blocks forming the roof may restrict the amount of space available to accommodate the hanger  34 .  
      In some embodiments, a hanger may have a lateral support  138  that secures to the leg  24  and may rest directly on a support structure such as the top plate of a wall. The leg  24  may secure to the lateral support  138  at a variety of positions to provide adjustability. A stop  140  may secure to the lateral support  138  to prevent the lateral support  138  from slipping off a support structure. The stop  140  may be embodied as a short beam  141 , such as a box beam, ‘I’ beam, or boxed ‘I’ beam.  
      Various mechanisms are suitable to enable variable positioning of the stop  140  and leg  24  along the lateral support  138 . In one embodiment, the leg  24  may have an aperture  142   a  formed therein and sized to permit insertion of the lateral support  138  without excessive play. In some embodiments, the upper end  144  of the beam  56  forming the leg may be cut at an angle  146 . The lateral support  138  may extend through an aperture  142   a  formed in wall  148   a  of a beam  56  embodied as a boxed ‘I’ beam  56  and through an open ended notch  142   b,  or closed aperture  142   b,  in wall  148   b.  Using an open ended notch  142   b  enables one to use less precision in, for example placing a locking aperture  150   a  for receiving a locking pin, inasmuch as it is much easier to establish a line (the lateral support  138 ) through two points (the position of the aperture  142   a  and the position of the locking aperture  150   a)  than through three points (the position of the aperture  142   a  in the wall  148   a,  the position of the locking aperture  150   a,  and the position of the aperture  142   b  in the wall  148   b ).  
      In some embodiments, the lateral support  138  may be a bar  152  made of square tubular steel, or the like. Any cross section may be suitable for the bar  152 , provided it delivers adequate structural strength. In the hanger  34  of  FIG. 4  the bar  152  has at least one surface that may rest on a support structure without causing excessive damage. The bar  152  may have a number of registration surfaces  154  that can be readily gripped or engaged to fix the location of the bar  152  relative to the leg  24 , stop  140 , or both. For example, the registration surfaces  154  may include grooves, notches, protruding posts, knobs, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the registration surfaces  154  are embodied as a series of apertures  156  spaced apart along the length of the bar  152 .  
      A lock  158   a  may secure the lateral support  138  to the leg  24 . The lock  158   a  may be embodied as a bolt, pin, or other elongate structure with a portion thereof having a uniform cross section. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock  158   a  is embodied as a pin  160   a  sized to pass through the locking aperture  150   a  in the beam  56  and an apertures  156  in the bar  152 . The pin  160   a  may be held in engagement with the locking aperture  150   a  by any suitable retaining device such as a cotter pin or lynch pin. In the illustrated embodiment, a retaining clip  162   a  pivotally connected to the head  164  of the pin  160   a  retains the pin  160   a.  The retaining clip  162   a  may include an arm  166  extending from the head  164  toward the end  168  of the pin  160   a.  An aperture  170  formed in the arm  166  may receive the end  168  of the pin  160   a  to prevent removal of the pin  16 . In some embodiments, the arm  166  may a be pair of resilient steel wires or clips and the aperture  170  may be formed by bends or punches therein.  
      In one embodiment, the stop  140  may have an aperture  142   c  formed in a wall  148   c  and sized to permit insertion of the lateral support  138  without excessive play. In some embodiments the upper end  165  of the beam  141  forming the stop  140  may be cut at an angle  146 . The lateral support  138  may pass through an aperture  142   c  in the wall  148   c  of a beam  56  embodied as a boxed ‘I’ beam  141  and through an open ended notch  142   d,  or, in some embodiments, a closed aperture  142   d.    
      A lock  158   b  may secure the lateral support  138  to the stop  140 . The lock  158   b  may be embodied as a bolt, pin, or other elongate structure with a portion thereof having a uniform cross section. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock  158   b  is embodied as a pin  160   b  sized to pass through a locking aperture  150   b  in the beam  141  and the apertures  156  in the bar  152 . The pin  160   b  may be held in engagement with the locking aperture  150   b  by any suitable retaining device such as a cotter pin, lynch pin, or quick-release latch. In the illustrated embodiment, a retaining clip  162   b  retains the pin  160   b.    
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , the adjustability of the stop  140  relative to the lateral support  138  is particularly useful when fitting the hanger  34  to a narrow support structure  172  with a soffit  174 , or other such structure, forming an obstruction nearby. The lateral support  138  will in some instances be longer than the support structure  172  is wide in order to accommodate both narrow and wide support structures  172 . Adjusting the leg  24  relative to the lateral support  138  will leave a portion of the lateral support  138  that in some instances will interfere with the soffit  174  fitted to overhanging rafters. Accordingly, the position of the stop  140  on the lateral support  138  may also be adjustable to accommodate walls of varying widths while avoiding interference with soffits. Making the position of the stop  140  adjustable may enable the extra portion  176  of the lateral support  138  to protrude away from the soffit  174  and into an unobstructed space.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , an added obstacle to the placement of a hanger  34  may be a Frieze block  178  substantially limiting the open space above a support structure  172 , such as the top of a wall or top plate of a wall. Accordingly the lateral support  138  may be positioned beneath a support structure  172  and a separate loading structure  180  such as a bar, hook, or any structure capable of bearing loads, may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the loading structure  180  may be a bar  182 . A spacer  184  may extend between the loading structure  180  and the lateral support  138 . The spacer  184  may provide space for a support structure  172  between the loading structure  180  and the lateral support  138 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, the spacer  184  may be a plate  186 , or plates  186  secured to both the lateral support  138  and the loading structure  180 . In embodiments having two plates  186 , the plates  186  may be placed on opposite sides of the loading structure  180 . The plates  186  may have apertures  188  at their upper ends  190 . The apertures  188  may receive bolts, welds, locking pins, or the like which may also pass through apertures  192  formed in the bar  182 . In the illustrated embodiment, bolts  194  are used to secure the plates  186  to the bar  182 . Locking pins held in place by cotter pins, retaining clips, or the like, may also be used to provide ready separation of the plates  186  from the bar  182 .  
      The lower end  196  of the plates  186  may secure to the lateral support  138  by means of bolts, locking pins, welds, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower ends  196  of the plates  186  secure to the lateral support  138  by means of a lock  197 . The lock  197  may either permanently, substantially permanently, or removably secure the lateral support  138  to the spacer  184 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lock  197  is a locking pin  198  which may be held in place by lynch pins, cotter pins, retaining clips, or the like. The use of readily removable locking pins  198  may enable the distance between the spacer  184  and the leg  24  to be adjustable. In this manner the upper end  144  of the leg  24  extending above the lateral support  138  may be positioned near support structures of varying widths to serve as a stop  140 , capturing a support structure  172  between itself and the spacer  184 . Such adjustability may also be achieved by selective positioning of the leg  24  relative to the lateral support  138 .  
      Alternatively, the spacer  184  and the loading structure  180  may be monolithically formed together or integrally or fixedly secured to one another. The spacer  184  may likewise be either integrally, monolithically, or fixedly secured to the lateral support  138 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , other embodiments for the hanger  34  may accommodate a Frieze block  178 . For example, the stop  140  and the lateral support  138  may be monolithically, or integrally formed. A coupler  199  may be monolithically or integrally formed with the stop  140  and lateral support  138  to selectively secure the hanger  34  to the leg  24 . The stop  140 , lateral support  138 , and coupler  199  may secure to one another by bolts, welds, pins, or any other suitably strong and tough fastening means.  
      In some embodiments, the stop  140 , lateral support  138 , and coupler  196  may be made of a strap of aluminum, steel, or other suitably resilient material, bent or formed in the shape of an inverted ‘J.’ The thickness  200  of the strap may be chosen to provide adequate stiffness and strength.  
      The coupler  199  may removably secure to the leg  24  by any suitable means. A removable hanger  34  may facilitate placement of a scaffold support  12  on top plates proximate Frieze blocks and the like. Removability may enable the hanger  34  to be inserted by approaching a top wall plate from either side. That is, the hanger  34  may be inserted into a gap between a Frieze block  178  and a support structure  172  from inside a building or from outside a building.  
      In the illustrated embodiment, a post  201  having a wide head  202  is secured to, or formed in the coupler  199 . Multiple posts  201  may be formed on the coupler  199  to provide strength and stability. The posts  201  may engage slots  204  formed in the leg  24 . The slots  204  may have a widened portion  206  to accommodate the insertion of the head  202 . A post  200  may then be slid into engagement with a narrowed portion  208  where the head  202  will prevent removal of the post  200  from the slot  204  when subject to forces in the longitudinal direction  22 .  
      Various alternative means are available to secure the hanger  34  to the leg  24 . In some embodiments, the coupler  199  may include a hook  210 , which may engage an aperture formed in the leg  24 . In some embodiments, the hook  210  may be sized to engage an aperture  142   a.  In this manner, a leg  24  may engage both a coupler  199  and a lateral support  138  embodied as a bar  148 . Alternatively, the hook  210  may engage an sleeve  212  or other receptacle formed on the leg  24  for engagement therewith of materials suitably strong to support the weight of the scaffold support  12  and any loads.  
      An aperture  214  may be provided in the stop  140  to secure the hanger  34  to a support structure  172 . A nail, screw, or other fastener, may be driven through the aperture  214  into a support structure. Alternatively, a tie down or other fastener may pass through the aperture  214  and engage a support structure  172 . Securing the stop  140  to a support structure may enable the corners  216 ,  218  of the hanger  34  to be hinged to facilitate insertion of the hanger  34  between a support structure  172  and a Frieze block  178 , inasmuch as a nail or other fastener prevents removal of the hanger  34 , rather than any reliance on the stiffness of the hanger  34  for that function.  
      Referring to  FIG. 9A , a method for using a hanger  34  may include positioning the hanger  34  as shown with the coupler  199  parallel to a support structure  172 . The coupler  199  may then be rotated down and between a Frieze block  178  and a support structure  172  as shown in  FIG. 9B . A leg  24  may then secure to the coupler  199 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , in some instances scaffolding is needed to perform repairs and improvements on finished walls where most points from which a scaffold support  12  might hang have been covered by finishing materials such as siding, a soffit, or the like. In such instances, a scaffold support  12  may secure to a window sill or the like. Securement to a window sill may present its own difficulties. For example, resting a lateral support  138  on a sill may damage metal frames, wood casings, paint or other finishes. Furthermore, a window sill will not have a rafter, Frieze block, or the like to resist accidental lifting of the hanger  34  therefrom.  
      Accordingly, the length  222  of the stop  140  may increase. The increased length  222  may prevent accidental removal, inasmuch as the scaffold support  12  would need to be lifted an improbable distance in order for it to tip off a window sill or the like. The increased length  222  may also make the stop  140  a more effective leveling arm. A nail driven through an aperture  214  may therefore have sufficient leverage to prevent the leg  24  from contacting finished siding on the outside of a building.  
      A pad  226  may be positioned between the lateral support  138  and a window sill to reduce or prevent cosmetic damage to the sill. A pad  228  may be positioned between the leg  24  and a wall to prevent cosmetic damage of siding or the like. The pads  226 ,  228  may be fixedly or removably attached to the lateral support  138  and leg  24 . Alternatively, the weight of the lateral support  138  and leg  24  may maintain the positioning of the pads  226 ,  228 . The pads  226 ,  228  may be made of rubber, leather, natural or synthetic woven fabric, expended polymer foams, or the like.  
      Referring to  FIG. 11 , in some uses of the apparatus  10 , it may be impractical to drive a nail into a wall through an aperture  214 . For example, an interior wall may be finished and likely to suffer cosmetic damage from driving a nail therethrough. Accordingly the length  222  may be further lengthened such that the stop  140  rests on the floor of a structure. The stop  140  may therefore serve as a stand  140  for supporting the scaffold support  12 . A foot  230  may secure to the end of the stop  140  to provide a greater bearing surface resting on a floor in order to prevent damage, tipping, or other degrees of motion. A foot  230  may be a bar, tab, crossbar, flat plate, or the like made of metal, plastic, rubber, wood, or the like. The foot  230  may also be a rubber cap fit over the end of a stop  140 . An aperture  232 , or other such structure may be provided in a foot  230  to receive a fastener, such as a nail, for securing the foot  230  to a floor to resist the scaffold support  12  tipping, rocking, or sliding, and striking a finished exterior wall. Inasmuch as interior floors may be carpeted, driving a nail or screw into a floor may not cause cosmetic damage. In some embodiments the foot  230  may removably secure to the stop  140  so that a scaffold support  12  may be used in situations where a foot  230  is not necessary and is an obstruction. In some embodiments, a crossbeam fitted to padding may connect to, or even form, the connection to the lateral beam from which the leg suspends. Thus stability and protection may be provided at a window sill.  
      The distance between a window sill and a floor may vary with the size of the window and other design parameters. Accordingly, the length  222  may be adjustable to accommodate varying sill heights. An extension  236  may adjustably secure to the stop  140 . In some embodiments, the extension  236  may have a series of registration structures  238  formed in, or secured to, the extension  236 . The registration structures  238  may provide a surface or structure that may be gripped, or otherwise engaged, to fix the position of the extension  236  relative to the stop  140 . In some embodiments, the registration structures  238  may be a series of apertures  240  formed in a beam  242  forming the extension  236 . The beam  242  may be a box beam, ‘I’ beam, boxed ‘I’ 0  beam, or the like.  
      A lock  244  may engage the registration structures  238 . In some embodiments, the extension  236  may slide within the beam  141  forming the stop  140 . The lock  244  may then be a pin  246 , or the like, passing through an aperture  248  in the beam  141  and through one of the apertures  240 . A retaining clip  162   c,  lynch pin, cotter pin, or the like may prevent removal of the pin  246 .  
      Other structures may be used to provide an adjustable stop  140 , or stand  30 . For example the registration structures  238  may be formed on the stop  140  and the extension  236  secured at various positions along the stop  140 . The apertures  248  may be replaced or augmented by grooves, posts, or other protruding structures.  
      A further improvement of a scaffold support  12  may be an eye  250  secured to the leg  24  to facilitate lowering of the apparatus  10 . The eye  250  may be an eye bolt  252  having an aperture  254  formed therein to receive a rope, cable, tether, or the like. Alternatively, an aperture  254  may be formed in, or the eye bolt  252  secured to, the leg  24 , lateral support  138 , or stop  140 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 12 , a scaffold support  12  may have both deployed and stowed configurations. A deployed scaffold support  12  may be in a configuration suitable for bearing a plank  96  and hanging on a wall structure, or the like. A stowed scaffold support  12  may position the components of the scaffold support  12  in a more compact configuration for easier stowage and transportation. A lock  248  may fix the components of the scaffold  12  in their stowed configuration.  
      The base  14  may be positioned to lie along the leg  24  with the flanges  106  of the stop  94  extending around the leg  24 . The lock  248  may be formed by a locking pin  250  extending through apertures  110  formed in either flange  106  of a stop  94  and through an aperture formed in the leg  24 . Alternatively, the lock  248  may be embodied as a locking pin  250  extending through apertures  78  in either flange  76  of the post mount  70 . A portion of the lateral support  138  may be inserted into the stop  140  and locked in place using the lock  158   b  in embodiments of a stop  140  having a beam  141  which is a box beam or boxed ‘I’ beam providing a cavity for that purpose. A portion of the lateral support  138  may be inserted in the leg  24  and locked in place using a lock  158   a  for legs  24  having a beam  56  embodied as a box beam or boxed ‘I’ beam providing a cavity for that purpose. Of course, given the elongate shape of the components forming the scaffold support  12 , various methods may be used to secure them to one another to form a single elongate assembly for ready storage and transport, such as tethers or brackets used exclusively to bind the scaffold support  12  in a stowed position.  
      The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.