Combined wall and scaffold jack

Abstract

A combined wall and scaffold jack comprising a driving mechanism that produces a force, a wall raising mechanism and a scaffolding mechanism, wherein the wall raising mechanism and the scaffolding mechanism are interchangeably connectable to the driving mechanism such that the wall raising mechanism can raise a wall by the force or the scaffolding mechanism can raise a staging plank by the force.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A combined wall and scaffold jack comprising: 
 a driving mechanism that produces a force, a wall raising mechanism and a scaffolding mechanism, wherein said wall raising mechanism and said scaffolding mechanism are interchangeably connectable to said driving mechanism such that said wall raising mechanism can raise a wall by said force or said scaffolding mechanism can raise a staging plank by said force.    
     
     
         2 . A combined wall and scaffold jack comprising: 
 a driving mechanism comprising a power source that produces a force, a traveller and a guide member, said traveller translating along said guide member as a result of said force;    a wall raising mechanism; and    a scaffolding mechanism;    wherein said wall raising mechanism and said scaffolding mechanism are interchangeably connectable to said traveller such that said wall raising mechanism can raise a wall by said force or said scaffolding mechanism can raise a staging plank by said force.    
     
     
         3 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 2 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a plate pivotally connected to said guide member for pivotally securing said guide member to a floor.  
     
     
         4 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 3 , wherein said guide member is an elongated tube and said traveller is a tube adapted to slide over said elongated tube.  
     
     
         5 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 3 , wherein said guide member is a square elongated tube and said traveller is a square tube adapted to slide over said square elongated tube.  
     
     
         6 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 4 , wherein said power source is a ratchet and pawl mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 6 , wherein said ratchet and pawl mechanism has a cable connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         8 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 7 , wherein said ratchet and pawl mechanism is connected to said guide member.  
     
     
         9 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 8 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a pulley secured to said guide member at an end opposite to said plate, said pulley being in communication with said cable.  
     
     
         10 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 5 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a brake mechanism connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         11 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 10 , wherein said brake mechanism comprises at least one bearing that applies an adjustable force to said guide member.  
     
     
         12 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 5 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a locking member connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         13 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 12 , wherein said locking member comprises a screw that engages with said guide member.  
     
     
         14 . A combined wall and scaffold jack comprising: 
 a driving mechanism that produces a force;    a wall raising mechanism comprising an attachment structure for removeably securing said wall raising mechanism to a wall; and    a scaffolding mechanism;    wherein said wall raising mechanism and said scaffolding mechanism are interchangeably connectable to said driving mechanism such that said wall raising mechanism can raise said wall by said force or said scaffolding mechanism can raise a staging plank by said force.    
     
     
         15 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 14 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a plate pivotally connected to said driving mechanism for pivotally securing said driving mechanism to a floor.  
     
     
         16 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 15 , wherein said driving mechanism comprises a power source that produces said force, a traveller and a guide member, said traveller translating along said guide member as a result of said force.  
     
     
         17 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 16 , wherein said guide member is an elongated tube and said traveller is a tube adapted to slide over said elongated tube.  
     
     
         18 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 16 , wherein said guide member is a square elongated tube and said traveller is a square tube adapted to slide over said square elongated tube.  
     
     
         19 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 17 , wherein said power source is a ratchet and pawl mechanism.  
     
     
         20 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 19 , wherein said ratchet and pawl mechanism has a cable connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         21 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 20 , wherein said ratchet and pawl mechanism is connected to said guide member.  
     
     
         22 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 21 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a pulley secured to said guide member at an end opposite to said plate, said pulley being in communication with said cable.  
     
     
         23 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 17 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a brake mechanism connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         24 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 23 , wherein said brake mechanism comprises at least one bearing that applies an adjustable force to said guide member.  
     
     
         25 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 17 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a locking member connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         26 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 25 , wherein said locking member comprises a screw that engages with said guide member.  
     
     
         27 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 17 , wherein said attachment structure is pivotally connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         28 . A combined wall and scaffold jack comprising: 
 a driving mechanism that produces a force;    a wall raising mechanism; and    a scaffolding mechanism comprising a scaffold arm for raising a staging plank;    wherein said wall raising mechanism and said scaffolding mechanism are interchangeably connectable to said driving mechanism such that said wall raising mechanism can raise a wall by said force or said scaffolding mechanism can raise said staging plank by said force.    
     
     
         29 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 28 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a plate pivotally connected to said driving mechanism for pivotally securing said driving mechanism to a floor.  
     
     
         30 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 29 , wherein said driving mechanism comprises a power source that produces said force, a traveller and a guide member, said traveller translating along said guide member as a result of said force.  
     
     
         31 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 30 , 
 wherein said wall raising mechanism comprises an attachment structure for removeably securing said wall.    
     
     
         32 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 31 , wherein said guide member is an elongated tube and said traveller is a tube adapted to slide over said elongated tube.  
     
     
         33 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 31 , wherein said guide member is a square elongated tube and said traveller is a square tube adapted to slide over said square elongated tube.  
     
     
         34 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 32 , wherein said power source is a ratchet and pawl mechanism.  
     
     
         35 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 34 , wherein said ratchet and pawl mechanism has a cable connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         36 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 35 , wherein said ratchet and pawl mechanism is connected to said guide member.  
     
     
         37 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 36 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a pulley secured to said guide member at an end opposite to said plate, said pulley being in communication with said cable.  
     
     
         38 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 32 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a brake mechanism connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         39 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 38 , wherein said brake mechanism comprises at least one bearing that applies an adjustable force to said guide member.  
     
     
         40 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 32 , wherein said driving mechanism further comprises a locking member connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         41 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 40 , wherein said locking member comprises a screw that engages with said guide member.  
     
     
         42 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 32 , wherein said attachment structure is pivotally connected to said traveller.  
     
     
         43 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 32 , wherein said scaffold arm connects to said traveller.  
     
     
         44 . The combined wall and scaffold jack of  claim 32 , wherein said scaffold mechanism further comprises a brace connecting said driving mechanism to a stable structure.  
     
     
         45 . A method of raising a wall and erecting scaffolding comprising the steps of: 
 pivotally connecting a driving mechanism that produces a force, to a floor;    pivotally connecting a wall raising mechanism to said driving mechanism;    connecting said wall raising mechanism to a wall;    applying said force to said wall raising mechanism to raise said wall;    disconnecting said wall from said wall raising mechanism;    disconnecting said wall raising mechanism from said driving mechanism;    connecting a scaffolding mechanism to said driving mechanism;    connecting a staging plank to said scaffolding mechanism;    applying said force to said scaffolding mechanism to raise said staging plank;    disconnecting said staging plank from said scaffolding mechanism;    disconnecting said scaffolding mechanism from said driving mechanism; and    disconnecting said driving mechanism from said floor.