Walk-through scaffold and hoist frame

Abstract

A light-weight, cost-effective walk-through frame that facilitates movement from one scaffold section to another by a scaffolding worker is disclosed. The frame includes a plurality of substantially vertical support members, each having a bottom end and a top end; a truss structure connected to the support members; and a plurality of angled support members, each of the angled support members having a bottom end and a top end, the angled support members diverging from their top ends to their bottom ends such that each of the angled support member top ends are connected near a central region of the truss structure and each of the angled support member bottom ends are connected near the bottom ends of the plurality of substantially vertical support member bottom ends. The frame can be used in a scaffold, ensuring that the scaffold is suitable for use on projects of significant height. “Walk-through” can be facilitated through the use of a chevron-type configuration. From a project management standpoint, the system results in increased labor savings due, at least in part, to relative ease of set-up.

1 . A scaffold comprising: 
 a deck;    a walk-through frame assembly connected to and for supporting the deck, the frame assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially upright support members each having a bottom end and a top end;  
 a truss structure connected to the plurality of substantially upright support members; and  
 a plurality of angled support members, each of the angled support members having a bottom end and a top end,  
 wherein the angled support members diverge from their top ends to their bottom ends such that each of the angled support member top ends are connected near a central region of the truss structure and each of the angled support member bottom ends are connected near the bottom ends of the plurality of substantially upright support member bottom ends.  
   
   
   
       2 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the truss structure further comprises a plurality of angled support members and a plurality of substantially lateral support members, and wherein the plurality of angled support members are connected to the substantially lateral support members.  
   
   
       3 . The scaffold of  claim 2 , wherein the lateral support members are substantially horizontal and the upright support members are substantially vertical.  
   
   
       4 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lateral support members connected to the plurality of substantially upright support members and the plurality of angled support members.  
   
   
       5 . The scaffold system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of substantially lateral support members and the plurality of angled support members are positioned and connected so to create a chevron-type bracing configuration.  
   
   
       6 . The scaffold system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly, when viewed on its side, comprises a k-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The scaffold system of  claim 1  wherein the angled brace members are positioned to be substantially diagonal in configuration.  
   
   
       8 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the truss structure further comprises a plurality of substantially lateral support members, a plurality of substantially upright support members, and a plurality of angled support members and wherein the plurality of substantially upright support members and the plurality of angled support members are connected to the substantially lateral support members.  
   
   
       9 . The scaffold of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of truss structure angled support members diverge from a common work point.  
   
   
       10 . A walk-through frame assembly, the frame assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially upright support members each having a bottom end and a top end;    a truss structure connected to the plurality of substantially upright support members; and    a plurality of angled support members, each of the angled support members having a bottom end and a top end,    wherein the angled support members diverge from their top ends to their bottom ends such that each of the angled support member top ends are connected near a central region of the truss structure and each of the angled support member bottom ends are connected near the bottom ends of the plurality of substantially upright support member bottom ends.    
   
   
       11 . The walk-through frame assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the truss structure further comprises a plurality of substantially lateral support members and a plurality of substantially upright support members connected to the substantially lateral support members.  
   
   
       12 . The walk-through frame assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lateral support members are positioned to be substantially horizontal and the upright support members are positioned to be substantially vertical.  
   
   
       13 . The walk-through frame assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of lateral support members connected to the plurality of substantially upright support members and the plurality of angled support members.  
   
   
       14 . The walk-through frame assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of substantially lateral support members and the plurality of angled support members are positioned and connected so to create a chevron-type bracing configuration.  
   
   
       15 . A scaffold comprising: 
 a pair of walk-through frame assemblies connected to one another, each of the frame assemblies comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially vertical support members each having a bottom end and a top end;  
 a truss structure connected to the plurality of substantially vertical support members; and  
 a plurality of angled support members, each of the angled support members having a bottom end and a top end, the angled support members diverging from their top ends to their bottom ends such that each of the angled support member top ends are connected near a central region of the truss structure and each of the angled support member bottom ends are connected near the bottom ends of the plurality of substantially vertical support member bottom ends;  
   
   
   
       16 . The scaffold of  claim 15 , wherein each truss structure further comprises at least one substantially lateral support member and at least one substantially upright support member connected to the substantially lateral support member, and wherein the at least one substantially lateral truss structure support member is connected to at least one of the walk-through frame assembly angled support members.  
   
   
       17 . The scaffold of  claim 16 , wherein each of the at least one substantially lateral truss structure support member and the at least one angled support members has a centerline, and each of the respective centerlines intersect at a convergent work point.