I-beam mounted work ladder

Abstract

A support structure for supporting workers from an I-beam comprises a ladder and a platform that are pivotally attached to each other. The pivoting nature of the support structure allows the geometry of the support structure to be interlocked with the geometry of the I-beam in a manner rigidly attaching the support structure to the I-beam. When attached to the I-beam, the platform preferably extends horizontally in a cantilevered manner to provide a surface upon which a worker can stand. The ladder assists the worker in accessing the platform.

1 . A support structure for use with an elevated I-beam having a generally vertical web, a generally horizontal upper flange at an upper end of the web, and a generally horizontal lower flange at a lower end of the web, wherein the upper flange, the web, and the lower flange define a first channel of the I-beam on a first side of the web and a second channel of the I-beam on an opposite second side of the web, the support structure comprising: 
 a first clamping member having a beam-engaging portion that is configured and adapted to be at least partially positioned within the first channel of the I-beam;    a second clamping member having a beam-engaging portion that is configured and adapted to be at least partially positioned within the second channel of the I-beam, the second clamping member being movably connected to the first clamping member in a manner so that the first and second clamping members are moveable relative to each other between a clamped configuration wherein the beam engaging portions of the first and second clamping members engage at least a portion of the web of the I-beam between them and an unclamped position wherein the beam engaging portions of the first and second clamping members are sufficiently spaced from one another to permit disengagement of the support structure from the I-beam;    a ladder attached to one of the first and second clamping members; and    a support platform attached to the other of the first and second clamping members.    
   
   
       2 . The support structure of  claim 1  wherein the first clamping member and the second clamping member are pivotally connected to each other in a manner to permit pivoting movement of the first and second clamping members relative to one another about and axis.  
   
   
       3 . The support structure of  claim 2  wherein the axis is located generally adjacent and generally parallel to the upper flange of the I-beam such that gravitational force acting downwardly on the first clamping member results in a generally horizontal force being exerted inwardly by the first clamping member against a portion of the web that partially bounds the first channel, and gravitational force acting downwardly on the second clamping member results in a generally horizontal force being exerted inwardly by the second clamping member against a portion of the web that partially bounds the second channel, when the support structure is attached to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       4 . The support structure of  claim 1  wherein the support platform extends generally horizontally and outwardly from the I-beam in a cantilevered fashion when the support structure is attached to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       5 . The support structure of  claim 1  wherein the beam-engaging portion of the first clamping member is configured and adapted to engage the upper flange, the web, and the lower flange when the support structure is attached to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       6 . The support structure of  claim 5  wherein portions of the upper flange, the web, and the lower flange of the I-beam together define a generally C-shaped first channel surface that partially bounds the first channel, and wherein the beam-engaging portion of the first clamping member is dimensioned to mate with the first channel surface when the support structure is attached to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The support structure of  claim 5  wherein the beam-engaging portion of the second clamping member is configured and adapted to engage the upper flange, the web, and the lower flange when the support structure is attached to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       8 . The support structure of  claim 5  wherein portions of the upper flange, the web, and the lower flange define a generally C-shaped second channel surface that partially bounds the second channel, and wherein the beam-engaging portion of the second clamping member is dimensioned to mate with the second channel surface when the support structure is attached to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       9 . The support structure of  claim 1  wherein the support platform includes a generally horizontal support surface that is of sufficient area to support a worker situated thereon when the support structure is attached to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       10 . A support structure for use with an I-beam having a generally vertical web, a generally horizontal upper flange at an upper end of the web, and a generally horizontal lower flange at a lower end of the web, the upper flange, the web, and the lower flange defining a first channel with a generally C-shaped first channel surface on one side of the web and a second channel with a generally C-shaped second channel surface on an opposite side of the web, the support structure comprising: 
 a first clamping member having a beam-engaging portion that is dimensioned to mate with the first channel surface; and    a second clamping member having a beam-engaging portion that is dimensioned to mate with the second channel surface, the second clamping member being pivotally connected to the first clamping member in a manner so that the first and second clamping members are moveable relative to one another between a clamped configuration wherein the first and second clamping members mate with the first and second channel surfaces, respectively, and an unclamped configuration wherein the beam engaging portions of the first and second clamping members are sufficiently spaced from one another to permit disengagement of the support structure from the I-beam;    wherein the pivotal connection of the first and second clamping members is located generally adjacent the upper flange of the I-beam so that weight of the first clamping member results in a generally horizontal force being exerted inwardly by the first clamping member against the first channel surface and weight of the second clamping member results in a generally horizontal force being exerted inwardly by the second clamping member against the second channel surface, when the support structure is secured to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.    
   
   
       10 . The support structure of  claim 9  further comprising a support platform attached to one of the first and second clamping members.  
   
   
       11 . The support structure of  claim 10  wherein the support platform includes a generally horizontal support surface that is of sufficient area to support a worker situated thereon.  
   
   
       12 . The support structure of  claim 10  further comprising a ladder attached to the other of the first and second clamping members.  
   
   
       13 . The support structure of  claim 10  wherein the support platform extends generally horizontally and outwardly from the I-beam in a cantilevered manner when the support structure is secured to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       14 . A support structure for use with an elevated I-beam having a generally vertical web, a generally horizontal upper flange at an upper end of the web, and a generally horizontal lower flange at a lower end of the web, the upper flange, the web, and the lower flange defining a first channel with a generally C-shaped first channel surface on one side of the web and a second channel with a generally C-shaped second channel surface on an opposite side of the web, the support structure comprising: 
 a ladder having a pair of generally parallel side rails with a plurality of generally horizontal steps extending therebetween, the ladder having a first clamping member connected to an upper end of at least one of the side rails, the first clamping member having a beam-engaging portion that is dimensioned to mate with the first channel surface of the I-beam; and    a support platform having a generally horizontal support surface that is of sufficient area to support a worker situated thereon, the support platform having a second clamping member with a beam-engaging portion that is dimensioned to mate with the second channel surface of the I-beam, the second clamping member being pivotally connected to the first clamping member in a manner so that the first and second clamping members are moveable relative to each other between a clamped configuration wherein the first and second clamping members mate with the first and second channel surfaces, respectively, and an unclamped configuration wherein the beam engaging portions of the first and second clamping members are sufficiently spaced from one another to permit disengagement of the support structure from the I-beam.    
   
   
       15 . The support structure of  claim 14  wherein the pivotal connection of the first and second clamping members is located generally adjacent the upper flange of the I-beam so that weight of the ladder results in a generally horizontal force being exerted inwardly by the beam-engaging portion of the first clamping member and weight of the support platform results in a generally horizontal force being exerted inwardly by the beam-engaging portion of the second clamping member against the second channel surface, when the support structure is secured to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       16 . The support structure of  claim 14  wherein the support platform extends from the I-beam in a cantilevered manner when the support structure is secured to the I-beam and is in the clamped configuration.  
   
   
       17 . A method comprising: 
 providing an I-beam having a generally vertical web, a generally horizontal upper flange at an upper end of the web, and a generally horizontal lower flange at a lower end of the web, the upper flange, the web, and the lower flange defining a first channel with a generally C-shaped first channel surface on one side of the web and a second channel with a generally C-shaped second channel surface on an opposite side of the web;    providing a support structure comprising first and second clamping members, a ladder, and a platform, the first clamping member being movably connected to the second clamping member;    removably securing the support structure to the I-beam by moving the first clamping member relative to the second clamping member in a manner so that a portion of the first clamping member is positioned within the first channel of the I-beam and a portion of the second clamping member is positioned within the second channel of the I-beam, whereby the support structure is in interlocked geometry with the I-beam.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of removing the support structure from the I-beam by moving the first clamping member relative to the second clamping member in a manner to position the first and second clamping members outside of the first and second channels of the I-beam.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the first and second clamping members of the support structure are pivotally connected to each other and wherein the step of removably securing the support structure to the I-beam and the step of removing the support structure from the I-beam each comprise pivoting the first and second clamping members relative to each other.  
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the step of providing the support structure occurs in a manner such that the ladder of the support structure is attached to the first clamping member and the platform is attached to the second clamping member.  
   
   
       21 . A method in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the platform extends horizontally and in a cantilevered manner from the second clamping member when the support structure is secured to the I-beam.