Plank securing assembly for scaffold constructions

Abstract

Platform assemblies may be built up using a substantial number of inverted U-shaped vertical supports with platform hold down members that hold the platforms in place, thus avoiding slippage or pilferage. The hold down members form a unitary structure with the supports and platform assemblies to hold the platforms securely in place. The unitary structure of the scaffolding assembly with hold down members acts as a deterrent against pilferage of the platforms because the unitary structure does not allow the planks to be removed unless the platform assembly is substantially disassembled. It also reduces the steps required to assemble a secure platform assembly with hold down members thus saving time while still preventing slippage and pilferage. The hold down members have holes at one end, and these holes have a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter (OD) of the guide pipes at the junctions between vertically extending pipes. The other end of the hold down member is substantially U-shaped and at least partially wraps around the platforms. As the scaffolding is erected, once the first, lower set of U-shaped supports and overlying planks are set in place, then the hold down members are mounted on the upwardly-extending guide pipes and across the planks. Then, when the next higher set of U-shaped supports is mounted onto the lower set, the hold down members are held in place between the two sets of pipes, and the planks are held in place.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of securing scaffolding material in place and against theft, comprising the steps of: 
 erecting a first level of scaffolding including: 
 (a) a set of front vertical pipes;  
 (b) a set of rear vertical pipes; said vertical pipes having a predetermined OD and ID;  
 (c) a set of front-to-rear extending horizontal pipes extending between said front and rear vertical pipes;  
 (d) a first transverse set of pipes intercoupling said front vertical pipes;  
 (e) a second transverse set of pipes intercoupling said rear vertical pipes;  
 (f) a plurality of planks mounted on said set of horizontal pipes;  
 (g) circular guide coupling members having an OD slightly less than the ID of said vertical pipes, extending into the upper end of one of the set of front and rear vertical pipes and extending for a short distance above the end of said one of the set of front and rear vertical pipes;  
   forming a plurality of hold down members formed of material having a substantially constant thickness and width and each of said hold down member having two ends including: 
 (a) a first end of said hold down member having a hole there through slightly larger than the OD of said coupling members and less than the OD of said one of the set of front and rear vertical pipes;  
 (b) a second end of said hold down member engaging said planks, and being firmly secured to said scaffolding at said second end;  
   placing said hold down members over and in engagement with said planks with the holes at the first end of said hold down members extending around and mating with the upwardly extending coupling members, and the second end engaging said planks and being secured to said scaffolding; and    erecting additional scaffold construction above said first level of scaffolding, with vertical pipes of said additional scaffold construction extending over said coupling members, and bearing down on the first end of said hold down members;    whereby said planks are held in place by said hold down members, and said hold down members provide increased mechanical strength to the scaffolding.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said hold down members are dimensioned to hold down a single layer of said planks.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said hold down members are dimensioned to hold down a double layer of said planks in locations where said planks overlap.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said assembly includes a plurality of pre-assembled vertical supports having a substantial inverted U-shape configuration, with said vertical pipes and said horizontal pipes forming parts of said U-shaped supports.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said assembly includes a plurality of hold down members that substantially conform to said planks.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second end is substantially U-shaped, the U-shape being defined by three sections of the material, wherein a first section and a third section of the three sections have a predetermined spacing, and wherein said second end wraps at least partially around said planks.  
     
     
         7 . A platform assembly comprising: 
 a set of front vertical supports;    a set of rear vertical supports;    a set of horizontal supports extending between said front and rear vertical supports;    a plurality of platform members mounted on said set of horizontal supports;    hold down members extending across said platform members, wherein at least a portion of said hold down members engage said platform members, each of said hold down members having a first end and a second end;    said first end of each of the hold down members having a hole for mating with one of the set of front and rear vertical pipes;    said second end of said hold down member engaging said planks, and being firmly secured to said scaffolding at said second end;    the vertical supports in said vertical set of supports being formed in sections, with joints between successive sections; and    said hold down members being held securely in place by the upper and lower vertical supports bearing on the upper and lower surfaces of said hold down members at said joints;    whereby said platform members are firmly held in place by said hold down members bearing on said platform members, with the platform members resting on said front-to-rear extending horizontal supports.    
     
     
         8 . A platform assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein a plurality of said hold down members are dimensioned to hold down a single layer of platform members.  
     
     
         9 . A platform assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein said hold down members are dimensioned to hold down a double layer of said platforms in locations where said platform members overlap.  
     
     
         10 . A platform assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein said assembly includes a plurality of pre-assembled vertical supports having a substantially inverted U-shape configuration, with said vertical supports and said horizontal supports forming parts of said U-shaped supports.  
     
     
         11 . A platform assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein said assembly includes a plurality of hold down members that conform to said platform members.  
     
     
         12 . A platform assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein said second end is substantially U-shaped, the U-shape being defined by first, second, and third sections, wherein said first section and said third section have a predetermined spacing, said second section interconnecting said first and third sections and the U-shaped second end wrapping at least partially around said platform members, said predetermined spacing being substantially equal to the thickness of said platform members.  
     
     
         13 . A method of securing scaffolding material in place and against theft, comprising the steps of: 
 erecting a first level of scaffolding including: 
 (a) a set of front vertical pipes;  
 (b) a set of rear vertical pipes; said vertical pipes having a predetermined OD and ID;  
 (c) a plurality of platform members mounted on said first level of scaffolding;  
 (d) guide coupling members having an OD slightly less than the ID of said vertical pipes, extending into the upper end of said vertical pipes and extending for a short distance above the end of said vertical pipes;  
 forming a plurality of hold down members having a horizontal extent, a first end and a substantially U-shaped second end, said first end having holes there through slightly larger than the OD of said coupling members and less than the OD of said vertical pipes;  
 placing said hold down members over said platform members with the hole at the first end of each of the hold down members extending around with and mating with the upwardly extending coupling members, and the U-shaped second end wrapping at least partially around said platform members; and  
 erecting additional scaffold construction above said first level of scaffolding, with vertical pipes of said additional scaffold construction extending over said coupling members, and bearing down on the first end of said hold down members;  
 whereby said platform members are held in place by said hold down members, and said hold down members providing increased mechanical strength to the scaffolding.  
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein a plurality of said hold down members are dimensioned to hold down a single layer of said platform members.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said hold down members are dimensioned to hold down a double layer of said platform members in locations where said platform members overlap.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said assembly includes a plurality of pre-assembled vertical supports having a substantial inverted U-shape configuration, with said vertical pipes and said horizontal pipes forming parts of said U-shaped supports.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said assembly includes a plurality of hold down members that substantially conform to said platform members.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  whereby disassembly of said scaffolding assembly would normally be involved in the removal of said platform members.  
     
     
         19 . A platform assembly comprising: 
 a set of front vertical supports;    a set of rear vertical supports;    a set of horizontal supports extending between said front and rear vertical supports;    a plurality of planks mounted on said set of horizontal supports;    hold down members extending across said platforms, wherein at least a portion of said hold down members engage said planks, each of said hold down members having a first end and a second end, each of said hold down member being formed of a single bent strip of metal;    said first end of each of the hold down members having a hole for mating with one of the set of front and rear vertical pipes;    said second end of said hold down member engaging said planks, and being firmly secured to said scaffolding at said second end;    the vertical supports in said vertical set of supports being formed in sections, with joints between successive sections; and    said hold down members being held securely in place by the upper and lower vertical supports bearing on the upper and lower surfaces of said hold down members at said joints;    whereby said planks are firmly held in place by said hold down members bearing on said planks, with the planks resting on said front-to-rear extending horizontal supports.    
     
     
         20 . The platform assembly as defined in  claim 19  wherein said second end is substantially U-shaped, the U-shape being defined by first, second, and third sections, wherein said first section and said third section have a predetermined spacing, said second section interconnecting said first and third sections and the U-shaped second end wrapping at least partially around said planks, said predetermined spacing being substantially equal to the thickness of said planks.  
     
     
         21 . A scaffolding platform assembly comprising: 
 a set of front vertical supports;    a set of rear vertical supports;    a set of horizontal supports extending between said front and rear vertical supports;    a plurality of planks mounted on said set of horizontal supports;    hold down members extending across said platforms, wherein at least a portion of said hold down members engage said planks, each of said hold down members having a first end and a second end, said each of the hold down members being formed of a single bent strip of metal;    said first end of said each of the hold down members having a hole for mating with one of the set of front and rear vertical pipes;    said second end of said each of the hold down members having a hook for engaging a portion of the scaffolding platform assembly;    the vertical supports in said vertical set of supports being formed in sections, with joints between successive sections; and    said hold down members being held securely in place by the upper and lower vertical supports bearing on the upper and lower surfaces of said hold down members at said joints;    whereby said planks are firmly held in place by said hold down members bearing on said planks, with the planks resting on said front-to-rear extending horizontal supports.    
     
     
         22 . The scaffolding platform assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the hook extends at least partially around said planks.  
     
     
         23 . The scaffolding platform assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the hook extends at least partially around at least one of the set of horizontal supports.