Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Unitary foldable – rigid scaffold or ladder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-02-20
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Unitary foldable, rigid scaffold or ladder
C182S200000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189653
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the field of scaffolding. The invention relates to a multi-purpose scaffold, having two rail parts disposed adjacent one another and displaceable relative to one another, between which steps or ladder rungs are disposed for folding out at an adjustable step angle. The multi-purpose scaffold also has fold-out splayed supporting poles that can be secured by connecting rods.
A generic scaffold has been disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,652 to Laboy-Alvarado. In the prior art scaffold, however, a relatively large standing space is necessary for the two lateral ladder elements. Belgium Publication No. 829 490 A discloses a ladder with foldout stair steps, the stair steps also being foldable to form a flat surface.
In both prior art devices, a flat standing surface is necessary for the ladder rail parts and the steps automatically adjust to be parallel to the standing surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a multi-purpose scaffold that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that improves a scaffold so that the step angle can be predetermined regardless of the available standing or lying surface.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a multi-purpose scaffold, including two rail parts disposed adjacent to one another and displaceable relative to one another, displaceable steps adjustable along a step angle and disposed between the two rail parts, at least two fold-out splayed supporting poles connected to the two rail parts, at least one connecting rod connected to the at least two supporting poles for securing the at least two supporting poles, and a locking device for releasably locking the steps along the step angle and the two rail parts.
The multi-purpose scaffold according to the invention provides a universal aid to assembly, enabling a plurality of different climbing appliances and platforms to be combined in a single appliance. One possible use for the scaffold of the invention is as a freely resting catwalk with a substantially flat movement surface, the catwalk being secured against tilting by rails that can be pushed out laterally transversely to the direction of scaffold movement. The catwalk can also be equipped with an adjustable and foldable railing.
Another possible use is as a freestanding working platform, which can also be walked on at a gradient. Adjustable steps that can be fixed at any inclination allow access to the platform, the adjustment being made from the top of the scaffold. Telescopic supports insure adaptation to any standing surface contour. Extensible and retractable climb-through apertures at the end of the platform permit safe access to the scaffold movement surface.
A third possible use is as a supported staircase. The staircase can be fixed at any desired angle of support and inclination. The step inclination can be set and locked from the top of the staircase or from the movement side. The steps can also be folded in completely in any supported position of the staircase and locked so as to form a transport slide or ascending ramp for materials, for example.
Another possible use includes a configuration as a freestanding double stepladder with individually adjustable supports. The adjustable supports allow any support angle to be set by the user. The steps also can be adjusted and locked separately at any desired inclination regardless of the support angle from the top or the movement side.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, each of the at least two supporting poles have lower ends and there is provided at least two rollers and/or pivotable footboards connected to a respective one of the lower ends of the at least two supporting poles.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, each of the at least two supporting poles and/or the at least one connecting rod are adjustably telescopic.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the at least two supporting poles and/or at least one connecting rod can adjustably fold in and out from the two rail parts and can be releasably locked into a plurality of positions.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, there is provided an extensible, folding and removable climb-through aperture.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, there is provided at least one removable railing attached to at least one of the two rail parts as an anti-falling safety device.
In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the removable railings are foldable and/or extensible.
In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, each of the two rail parts has a lower end and an upper end forming a pair of lower ends and a pair of upper ends and there is provided extension sections and one of the group including adjustable suspension apparatuses, anti-slip devices, running rollers and castors and jacket tubes for receiving the extension sections to connect at least one of the pair of lower ends and the pair of upper ends to a second multi-purpose scaffold.
In accordance with again another feature of the invention, each of the two rail parts has a lower end and an upper end forming a pair of lower ends and a pair of upper ends and there is provided a telescopic rail fixed transverse to a movement direction of the scaffold to at least one of the pair of lower ends and the pair of upper ends as an anti-tilting safety device for using the scaffold as a freely resting plank.
In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, each of the two rail parts has a lower end and an upper end forming a pair of lower ends and a pair of upper ends and there is provided two telescopic rails respectively fixed transverse to a movement direction of the scaffold to the pair of lower ends and the pair of upper ends as an anti-tilting safety device for using the scaffold as a freely resting plank.
In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, the telescopic rail has two telescopic ends.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, each of the two telescopic ends has a castor.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a multi-purpose scaffold, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2220155 (1940-11-01), Jachim
patent: 2261479 (1941-11-01), Moen
patent: 3259207 (1966-07-01), Schoeffler
patent: 4030255 (1977-06-01), Hartman
patent: 4565262 (1986-01-01), Hawkins
patent: 4574937 (1986-03-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5462133 (1995-10-01), Merrill, Jr.
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Stemer Werner H.
Stodola Daniel P.
Thompson Hugh B.
LandOfFree
Multi-purpose scaffold does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multi-purpose scaffold, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-purpose scaffold will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2608389