Walkboard ledger for scaffolding

Abstract

A scaffolding ( 10 ) for elevating a worker (not shown) above a floor or ground surface is disclosed. The scaffolding ( 10 ) broadly includes a pair of frames ( 12 ) and ( 14 ), cross bracing ( 16 ) coupling the frames ( 12,14 ) together, and a plurality of walkboards ( 18, 20 , and 22 ) removably supported between the frames ( 12,14 ). Each of the frames ( 12,14 ) includes a plurality of slotted ledgers ( 32, 34, 36, 38 ) and ( 40, 42, 44, 46 ) coupled to and extending horizontally between corresponding support posts ( 24,26 ) and ( 28,30 ), respectively. Each ledger is configured to facilitate initial assembly of the frames ( 12,14 ) and to prevent undesired shifting of a walkboard supported thereon. For example, the ledger ( 38 ) is defined by a U-shaped wall ( 60 ) that presents an arcuate walkboard bearing support surface ( 62 ) having open, recessed slots ( 64,66,68,70,72 ) defined therein. Each slot is configured and dimensioned to receive a portion of the supported walkboard and prevent shifting of the walkboard along the ledger axis.

1 . Scaffolding for supporting a worker elevated above the ground, said scaffolding comprising: 
 a walkboard presenting a support surface on which the worker may be supported,    said walkboard including a coupling element projecting downwardly relative to the support surface; and    a scaffold frame configured to support the walkboard above the ground, said frame including a pair of spaced apart upright support posts,    said frame further including a ledger coupled to the support posts and extending therebetween to define a longitudinal ledger axis,    said ledger including an outer wall that presents an upper walkboard bearing surface extending along the ledger axis, with the walkboard being supported on the bearing surface,    said ledger further presenting a plurality of open slots defined in the bearing surface at points spaced along the ledger axis, with each of the slots extending entirely through the outer wall,    a first one of said slots receiving the coupling element therein to generally prevent the walkboard from shifting along the ledger axis.    
     
     
         2 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said outer wall extending about the ledger axis to define a generally hollow interior of the ledger,    said open slots communicating with the hollow interior of the ledger,    said outer wall presenting a bottom drain opening spaced below the bearing surface,    said drain opening communicating with the hollow interior of the ledger.    
     
     
         3 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 2 , 
 said outer wall having a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section relative to the ledger axis, such that the outer wall includes a substantially horizontal web section and a pair of depending substantially vertical flanges,    said bearing surface being defined by the web section,    said drain opening being defined between the flanges.    
     
     
         4 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 3 , 
 each of said support posts being cylindrical so as to define a generally circular horizontal cross sectional shape,    said flanges being configured so that each support post is at least partially received between the flanges.    
     
     
         5 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said coupling element comprising an elongated headed fastener including a shank.    
     
     
         6 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said walkboard including a horizontally extending plank presenting said support surface and at least one sidewall coupled to the plank,    said sidewall including at least a portion thereof extending vertically from the plank and engaging the bearing surface,    said at least a portion of the sidewall comprising the coupling element.    
     
     
         7 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 6 , 
 said walkboard including an additional sidewall horizontally spaced from the first-mentioned sidewall and including at least a portion thereof extending vertically from the plank and engaging the bearing surface,    a second one of said slots receiving said at least a portion of the additional sidewall.    
     
     
         8 . Scaffolding for supporting a worker elevated above the ground, said scaffolding comprising: 
 a walkboard presenting a support surface on which the worker may be supported,    said walkboard including a coupling element projecting downwardly relative to the support surface; and    a scaffold frame configured to support the walkboard above the ground,    said frame including a pair of spaced apart upright support posts,    said frame further including a ledger coupled to the support posts and extending therebetween to define a longitudinal ledger axis,    said ledger including an outer wall that presents an upper walkboard bearing surface extending along the ledger axis, with the walkboard being supported on the bearing surface,    said wall including a plurality of slot-defining edges that cooperatively present a generally orthogonal shaped slot in which the coupling element is received,    said edges including a recessed edge spaced below the bearing surface and extending along the ledger axis,    said edges further including a pair of abutment edges spaced along the ledger axis, with the abutment edges projecting substantially perpendicularly from the recessed edge and extending to the bearing surface to generally prevent the walkboard from shifting along the ledger axis when the coupling element engages one of the abutment edges.    
     
     
         9 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 said bearing surface and said recessed edge being substantially flat and parallel to one another.    
     
     
         10 . Scaffolding as claimed in  claim 9 , 
 said recessed edge terminating at opposite ends spaced along the ledger axis,    said abutment edges projecting from the opposite ends.    
     
     
         11 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 shifting of the walkboard along the ledger axis being prevented in a first direction when said coupling element engages a first one of the abutment edges,    shifting of the walkboard along the ledger axis being prevented in a second direction opposite the first direction when said coupling element engages the other abutment edge.    
     
     
         12 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 said coupling element comprising an elongated headed fastener including a shank.    
     
     
         13 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 said walkboard including a horizontally extending plank presenting said support surface and at least one flange coupled to the plank,    said flange including at least a portion thereof extending vertically from the plank,    said at least a portion of the flange comprising the coupling element.    
     
     
         14 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 13 , 
 said walkboard including an additional coupling element projecting downwardly relative to the support surface,    said walkboard including an additional flange horizontally spaced from the first-mentioned flange and including at least a portion thereof extending vertically from the plank,    said wall including an additional plurality of slot-defining edges that cooperatively present an additional generally orthogonal shaped slot in which the additional coupling element is received,    said additional slot being configured substantially like said first-mentioned slot and being horizontally spaced therefrom,    said at least a portion of the additional flange comprising the additional coupling element.    
     
     
         15 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 said outer wall extending about the ledger axis to define a generally hollow interior of the ledger,    said slot defining an opening between the plurality of slot-defining edges, said opening communicating with the hollow interior of the ledger.    
     
     
         16 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 15 , 
 said outer wall having a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section relative to the ledger axis, such that the outer wall includes a substantially horizontal web section and a pair of depending substantially vertical sidewalls,    said bearing surface being defined by the web section,    said outer wall presenting a bottom drain opening defined between the flanges,    said drain opening being spaced below the bearing surface and communicating with the hollow interior of the ledger.    
     
     
         17 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 16 , 
 each of said support posts being cylindrical so as to define a generally circular horizontal cross sectional shape,    said sidewalls being configured so that each support post is at least partially received between the sidewalls.    
     
     
         18 . The scaffolding as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 said plurality of slot-defining edges including an additional recessed edge spaced below the bearing surface and extending along the ledger axis,    said additional recessed edge being horizontally spaced from the first-mentioned recessed edge and generally coplanar therewith,    said abutment edges projecting substantially perpendicularly from the additional recessed edge.