Supports – Brackets – Shelf or scaffold type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-08-14
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Shelf or scaffold type
C248S246000, C248S235000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273381
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to scaffold bracket assemblies and more particularly, to load activated locks for scaffold bracket assemblies.
Angle brackets and bracket assemblies are well known in the art.
Angle brackets typically comprise three main structural components, a horizontal leg, a diagonal leg and a vertical leg, which are configured to define, in load-bearing shape, a substantially triangular bracket. In the art, angle brackets typically fall into two categories, one-piece angle brackets and multiple-piece angle brackets.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,766 to Riblet, there is disclosed an angle bracket constructed from a single piece metal bracket. The bracket is of a substantially triangular shape. In one embodiment of the invention, the bracket has a U-shaped cross-section providing added stability. A method is disclosed for constructing the bracket from the metal blank. The method includes the steps of folding the metal blank along preformed fold sections to form its triangular shape. The method also includes the steps of folding the metal blank along additional preformed fold lines to form its U-shaped cross-section.
Bracket assemblies typically comprise an angle bracket of the type described above, an upper bracket arm and a lower bracket arm. The upper bracket arm and the lower bracket arm are sized and shaped to be mounted on a vertical upright. In use, each of a pair of bracket assemblies is commonly mounted onto an associated upright, such as a post or beam, to create a scaffold. A scaffold is created by placing a horizontal plank across the angle bracket of each bracket assembly.
One type of bracket assembly which is well known and widely used in the art is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,342,427 to Riblet. The bracket assembly comprises a horizontal leg, a diagonal leg and a vertical leg which are configured to define, in load-bearing shape, a substantially triangular angle bracket. The bracket assembly further comprises an automatic lock which is affixed to the angle bracket at the junction of the vertical leg and the horizontal leg and a lower bracket arm which is affixed to the angle bracket at the junction of the vertical leg and the diagonal leg.
The automatic lock of the bracket assembly comprises a U-shaped band which is pivotally mounted onto the angle bracket about a fulcrum. The automatic lock of the bracket assembly further comprises a cylindrically shaped inner jaw and a cylindrically shaped outer jaw, the inner jaw being disposed beneath the plane defined by the fulcrum and the outer jaw.
The bracket assembly can be mounted on an upright by slidably disposing the bracket assembly so that the upright projects between the inner jaw and the outer jaw. When a load is placed on the horizontal leg of the angle bracket, the resulting force pivots the lock about the fulcrum in a counterclockwise direction until the inner and outer jaws abut against the upright in such a manner so as to prevent any downward movement of the bracket assembly along the upright.
Bracket assemblies of this type are highly desirable because the force of the inner jaw and the outer jaw onto the upright is provided entirely by the load on the platform. Specifically, the load creates a frictional force between the outer jaw and the upright which precludes the bracket assembly from sliding down the upright.
Although widely used in commerce, bracket assemblies of this type experience a notable drawback. In particular, it has been found that bracket assemblies of this type function inadequately when mounted on an upright of reduced thickness. Specifically, when a bracket assembly of this type is mounted on an upright of reduced thickness, a considerable amount of rotation of the lock about the fulcrum is required in order for the inner and outer jaws to properly abut against the upright to limit downward movement of the bracket assembly along the upright. Accordingly, it has been found that when the lock is required to rotate so that the outer jaw is disposed above the horizontal plane defined by the horizontal leg and the fulcrum, the outer jaw inadequately engages the upright. As a consequence, the bracket assembly may slide down the upright, which is highly undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved lock for a bracket assembly.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock for a bracket assembly which is load actuated.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lock for a bracket assembly of the type described above which securely retains the bracket assembly mounted on a vertical upright.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lock for a bracket assembly of the type described above which is strong and which is constructed to withstand heavy loads.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock for a bracket assembly of the type described above which is easy to manufacture, has a limited number of parts, and which is easy to use.
Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a load actuated lock for mounting an angle bracket on an upright, said load actuated lock comprising a U-shaped member pivotally coupled to the angle bracket, an outer locking jaw fixedly coupled to said U-shaped member, said outer locking jaw comprising an abutment surface and an engagement surface, and an inner locking jaw fixedly coupled to said U-shaped member, said inner locking jaw comprising an abutment surface and an engagement surface.
In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a load actuated lock for mounting an angle bracket on an upright, said load actuated lock comprising a U-shaped member pivotally coupled to the angle bracket, an outer locking jaw rotatably coupled to said U-shaped member, said outer locking jaw comprising an abutment surface and an engagement surface, and an inner locking jaw rotatably coupled to said U-shaped member, said inner locking jaw comprising an abutment surface and an engagement surface.
Additional objects, as well as features and advantages, of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof and in which is shown by way of illustration of various embodiments for practicing the invention. The embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 351143 (1886-10-01), Whittingham
patent: 901926 (1908-10-01), Watt
patent: 1416296 (1922-05-01), Hoitsma
patent: 1441806 (1923-01-01), Hoitsma
patent: 1487798 (1924-03-01), Nowicki
patent: 2038899 (1936-04-01), Hoitsma
patent: 2244374 (1941-06-01), Riblet
patent: 2342427 (1944-02-01), Riblet
patent: 2605074 (1952-07-01), Bucsko et al.
patent: 2801851 (1957-08-01), Meek
patent: 2854293 (1958-09-01), Riblet
patent: 3473774 (1969-10-01), Riblet
patent: 3970277 (1976-07-01), Riblet
patent: 4103856 (1978-08-01), Riblet
patent: 4597471 (1986-07-01), Anderson
patent: 4598794 (1986-07-01), Anderson
patent: 5257766 (1993-11-01), Riblet
patent: 5535974 (1996-07-01), Savitski
patent: 5845743 (1998-12-01), Dechant
patent: 5941486 (1999-08-01), Riblet
patent: 6126127 (2000-10-01), Riblet
King Anita M.
Kriegsman & Kriegsman
Morrison N.
Redev Management Corporation
LandOfFree
Load actuated lock does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Load actuated lock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Load actuated lock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2466619