Improvements in Scaffold Brackets.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Scaffold Brackets.
I, SIMON VAN VLIET, of Rutherford, in the State of New Jersey, United
States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a scaffold bracket and has for its object the provision of
such a bracket as that when in place the weight which may be superimposed thereon
will cause said bracket to more firmly and tightly fasten itself to the scaffold.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the bracket in position.
Fig. 2 is a section thereof on the line 1-1.
Fig. 3 a detail view of a slight modification in the construction of the floor
support and
Fig. 4 a detail plan view of the loop and bolt shown in Fig. 3.
I represents a scaffold or support; 2 a structure and 3 a brace for supporting the
scaffold to the structure.
My invention consists of a diagonal brace 4 constructed of two plates of metal,
or one plate if desired formed in a loop 5 at the lower end, the upper ends being
spread in the shape of forks 6 to which is secured a block of wood or other non-
abrading material 7.
Pivoted between lugs 8 near the upper end of the brace 4
is a horizontal floor support 9 which at its outer end is formed in a loop 10 by means
of bending the same upon itself. To the rear of this loop are lugs 11 through
which passes a pin 12. Pivoted near the lower end of the diagonal brace is an
upright 13 extending between the two parts of the brace and having at its upper
end a side extension 14 provided with a slot 15 extending from the lower end of said
side extension upwardly in an inclined direction toward the front of the upright. The
upright passes between the lugs 11 and the slot 15 engages over pin 12. The front
edge of upright 13 is provided with a downwardly inclined tooth 16 at its lower end
and a similar tooth 17 at its upper end.
It will be seen that when in use, the loops 5 and 10 will embrace a post of the
scaffold and the block 7 will engage the structure 2. Boards being placed upon the
floor support 9, the added weight thereon will have a tendency to throw the upper
end of support 9 downwardly, causing its pin 12 to bear upon the inclined portion 18
of the side extension 14, thus thrusting the teeth at the front edge of the upright
into firmer engagement with the post of the scaffold.
It will be noticed that the lower end of the upright 13 has several perforations 19
through which the pivot bolt 20 may be passed.
The rear end of the floor support 9 is provided at its lower edge with several
lugs 21 through perforations in either of which may be passed the pivot bolt 22. These
pivot bolts 20 and 22 being adapted for insertion in either of the perforations just
mentioned, the size of the bracket may be reduced if desired.
In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown the loop 10 as being provided with a bolt 23
similar to the bolts 20 and 22 and by means of which bolt the loop may be
contracted or enlarged to adapt the same to embrace posts of varying diameters.
The bolt is held by a chain 24 fastened to a lip on the loop 10.
The loop may be provided with a similar bolt if desired.
The entire device excepting block 7 is preferably formed of metal. It will
be observed that when the device is out of use it may be folded within small
compass.

page_text: It will also be observed that two or more of the brackets are employed in
practice.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a scaffold bracket, the combination of an inclined brace, a floor support
pivoted thereto, loops at the outer ends of said brace and floor support for the
attachment of a post of the scaffold, an upright connecting the front ends of said
brace, and floor support and provided with a tooth and means for projecting said
tooth into engagement with a scaffold substantially as and for the purpose set
forth. <
2. In a scaffold bracket, the combination of an inclined brace, a floor support
pivoted thereto, loop at the outer ends of said brace and floor support for the
attachment of a post of the scaffold, said loops being provided with means as
described for enlarging or contracting the same, an upright connecting the front
ends of said brace and floor support and provided with a tooth and means for
projecting said tooth into engagement with a scaffold, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. In a scaffold bracket, the combination of an inclined brace, a floor support
pivoted thereto, said brace and floor support being provided with loops for the
attachment of a post of the scaffold, an upright pivoted to the lower end of said
brace and provided with a tooth at its front edge and means at the upper end of
said upright whereby its tooth is caused to project into said scaffold, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a scaffold bracket, the combination of an inclined brace, a floor support
pivoted thereto, loops at the outer ends of said brace and floor support for
the attachment of a post of the scaffold, an upright pivoted at its lower end to the
lower end of said brace and provided with a tooth, a pin at the outer end of the
floor support and means engaged thereby whereby said tooth is caused to project
into the scaffold, substantially as set forth.
5. In a scaffold bracket, the combination of an inclined brace provided with a
block at its upper end and a loop at its outer end, a floor support pivoted to said
brace and provided with a loop at its outer end, an upright pivoted to the lower
end of said brace and provided with inclined teeth at its front edge and means at
the upper end of said upright whereby its teeth are caused to project into said
scaffold, substantially as set forth.
6. In a scaffold bracket, the combination of an inclined brace, a floor support
pivoted thereto, means at the outer ends of said brace, and floor support for
engaging a post of the scaffold, an upright pivoted to said brace and provided
with a tooth at its front edge and an inclined slot at its upper end and a pin at
the outer end of said floor support adapted to engage in said slot, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a scaffold bracket, the combination of an inclined brace, a floor support
pivoted thereto, an upright connecting the front ends of said brace and floor support
and provided with a tooth, means for projecting said tooth into engagement with a
post of a scaffold, and means at the outer ends of said brace and floor support for
engagement with said post, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of February 1891
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.