Abstract:
A mounting assembly for a davit to support a platform by supporting lines, is secured by a receptacle flush mounted on an elevated floor of a building. The mounting assembly is secured and moved into engagement with the mounting assembly by a socket of a mounting assembly receiving the davit engaging the assembly with the mounting assembly by engagement blocks which engage a locking member in the receptacle upon tilting of the davit mounting assembly toward a vertical position.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to davit mounting assemblies for supporting platforms suspended from building structures, as for workmen and service personnel; more particularly, the invention relates to an improved davit mounting assembly mounted on a flush-mounted receptacle adapted to receive the davit-mounting assembly and to be flush with a supporting surface in a high-rise building, such as a balcony surface. 
     Elevated platform suspension systems, apparatus and assemblies have long been utilized to provide access by service personnel and workmen to the sides of buildings and structures. Bent arm davits has long been utilized, and davits have long been mounted in sockets in davit-mounting assemblies. A davit is typically mounted on a roof or elevated surface, with suspension lines extending from the davit to support a platform, with two davits typically being utilized. 
     Prior art davit-mounting arrangements are shown and described in Pat. Nos. 4,714,226 to Tracy, 4,545,558 to Crudele, and 5,782,446 to Ghahremani. 
     In some applications, it is desirable that the location for mounting and supporting a davit present a pleasing, aesthetic appearance. For example, it is desirable that such floor surfaces as floors of balconies extending from offices in high-rise office buildings, present a pleasing appearance without mechanical equipment being obvious or seen. 
     The present invention provides a davit mounting assembly for mounting in a flush-mounted receptacle assembly on a horizontal surface of an elevated building structure. The davit mounting assembly is movable, as between a storage facility and the flush-mounted receptacle assembly. The assembly comprises a mechanism for locking engagement with the flush-mounted receptacle assembly upon pivotal movement of the socket of the assembly to engage the receptacle assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a davit mounting assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken at line  2  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a flush-mounted receptacle assembly according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken at line  3 A- 3 A in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the flush-mounted receptacle assembly of FIG. 3 with the components in assembled relation; 
     FIG. 5 is a large elevational view of major components of the assembly of FIG. 1 in relation to a portion of the flush-mounted receptacle assembly of FIG. 4 disposed in concrete floor; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of engagement block components of the apparatus of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a davit mount assembly  10 , a mounting mechanism  20 , and a flush mount receptacle  100  mounted in a concrete floor of a building structure, typically a balcony floor of a high-rise building structure. The flush mount receptacle assembly  100  of FIG. 3 is mounted flush with the floor of a balcony, etc., and is secured closed when not mounting a davit mount assembly  10 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, receptacle  100  has a lower flange portion  104  (FIG. 2) for securement in the concrete floor  103 , and an annular wall  106  which extends to the finished surface of the roof. A locking flange  108  extends radially inwardly from the wall  106 , and defines a circular opening  110 . Wings  140 ,  142  are engageable under the locking flange  108  to secure cover  130  in a locked configuration, with cover  130  thereof flush with the floor surface. 
     The davit assembly includes a cover  130 , which covers a floor opening and is mounted flush with the concrete floor surface. A water-tight seal or gasket  132  is secured to the cover  130 , and a threaded axial bolt shaft  134  extends from the cover. A cover adapter block  136  has a central threaded opening to receive threaded shaft  134 . Pivotally mounted on adapter block  136 , as shown, are wings  140 ,  142  which are engageable under the locking flange  108 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, davit assembly  10  has frame members  22 ,  24  disposed at opposite sides and secured to a bottom plate  109 , as by welding. The frame members are disposed opposite each other, and each has outwardly extending flanges  42 ,  46 . Extending upwardly from upper portions of the frame members  22  and  24  are handles  52 ,  54  (partially shown) for manual grasping for handling and manipulation of the davit mount assembly, utilizing ground wheels  56  of the assembly. 
     A tubular socket member or pipe  70  is secured, as by welding, between the frame members  22  and  24 . A conventional davit  80  is receivable in the socket pipe  70  and is rotatable therein, as indicated by arrows A (FIG.  1 ). The davit has an upper portion bent 90° to extend outwardly and has at its end portion a linkage  82  to support a woven-wire cable  84 . In utilizing the apparatus, two such cables are typically suspended from spaced-apart davits (not shown) to support a platform for persons performing services on a structure or building. 
     A pair of engagement blocks  114 ,  116  are pivotally mounted relative to socket pipe  70 . Pivotally mounted at  120  on a wheel strut  122  is a locking member arm  124 . Mounted thereon, as by welding, is a tab  126  whereon is pivotally mounted a separator  128 . 
     In the installation or removal of the davit  80  (FIG. 1) relative to socket  70 , a securement pin (not shown) between the davit and the socket  70  is removed, whereupon socket  70  is rotatable about its pivotal mounting into a tilted position (FIG. 5) to install or remove the davit. It will be understood that it is generally impracticable or unfeasible to insert or remove a davit relative to the socket while the socket is vertical. In conventional manner, with the socket tilted, the davit is slidable thereinto or is removable. The socket is then tilted to its vertical position, and the securing pin is replaced to secure the socket in vertical position. 
     In order to install the davit mounting assembly  10  at the flush mount receptacle  100 , the davit mounting assembly is first grasped, by means of the vertical pipe handle  52 ,  54  welded to the back of the frame, then is tilted so that the weight of the assembly is borne by the wheels  56 . It is then rolled, typically from a storage area, to the flush mount receptacle  100  whereupon it is pivoted to an upright position adjacent to the flush mounted receptacle. A lock pin (not shown) is removed, bolt  134  is removed from cover  130  of the receptacle, and the cover is removed. The socket  70  is rotated about its pivotal mount  111  relative to frame members  22 ,  24 . The separator  128 , pivotally mounted on a tab  126  extending from a locking lever arm  124  (FIG.  5 ), is thereby urged between pivotally mounted engagement blocks  114 ,  116  to force them apart after they are extended through opening  110  of annular locking member flange or ring  108  of mounting assembly  100  into their positions of FIG. 2 wherein engagement lugs  101 ,  102  thereof are engaged under the annular ring  108 , and the socket tube  70  and davit  80  are secured in their vertical orientation of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     Concurrently, the locking lever arm  124  is urged pivotally about its pivot connection on strut  120  of the wheel assembly (FIG.  5 ), from its position of FIG. 5 into its position of FIG. 2, wherein it is secured in position by a safety lock  143  fixedly mounted on the lower portion of socket  70 . The assembly is thus secured in the configuration of FIG.  2 . 
     In the removal of the davit assembly from the receptacle assembly  100 , the locking arm  124  is rotated to its position of FIG.  2  and socket  70  is tilted to an inclined position, such as that of FIG.  5 . The davit  80  is disengaged from the socket tube  70  by removal of a pin therebetween (not shown). The mounting assembly  10  is then removed from the flush mount receptacle  100 . 
     It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof.