Apparatus and method for human powered movement of a scaffold structure

Abstract

A human powered movement apparatus for moving a wheeled structure or scaffold. The human powered movement apparatus having a horizontal lever bar operable by a person working on a platform of the scaffold. The horizontal lever bar is connected, by way of a shaft, to a wheel frame with a set of unidirectional wheels. When the operator moves the horizontal lever bar in one direction, the wheel frame pivots about one of the unidirectional wheels while the other unidirectional wheel rolls freely causing the scaffold to advance in an arc. Movement of the horizontal lever bar in the opposite direction results in a similar movement with the behavior of the unidirectional wheels reversed. Repeated movement of the horizontal lever bar results in forward movement of the scaffold through a cambering motion.

1 . An apparatus for human-powered movement of a scaffold structure comprising: 
 a) an operating device;    b) a wheel frame;    c) a transmission system connected between said operating device and said wheel frame and connectable to the scaffold structure, such that actuation of said operating device causes a corresponding movement in said wheel frame; and    d) two unidirectional wheel assemblies provided at opposite ends of said wheel frame, said unidirectional wheel assemblies comprising: 
 i) a wheel bracket connected to said wheel frame;  
 ii) a unidirectional wheel supported in said wheel bracket.  
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said unidirectional wheel comprises: 
 a) a bi-directional main wheel; and    b) a sub-wheel arranged in said wheel bracket adjacent to said bi-directional main wheel and adjacent to said wheel bracket,    c) such that movement of said bi-directional main wheel in a first direction causes said sub-wheel to come into contact with said wheel bracket and prevents further rotation of said bi-directional main wheel in the first direction while movement of said bi-directional main wheel in a second direction causes said sub-wheel to move out of contact with said wheel bracket allowing further movement of said bi-directional main wheel in the second direction.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said unidirectional wheel comprises: 
 a) a bi-directional main wheel; and    b) a block connected to said wheel bracket and arranged adjacent to said bi-directional main wheel,    c) such that movement of said bi-directional main wheel in a first direction causes said block to abut against said bi-directional main wheel and said wheel bracket preventing further rotation of said bi-directional main wheel in the first direction while movement of said bi-directional main wheel in a second direction causes said block to disengage from said bi-directional main wheel or said wheel bracket allowing further movement of said bi-directional main wheel in the second direction.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a support mechanism such that activating said support mechanism causes the scaffold structure to be unsupported by said unidirectional wheel assemblies and deactivating said support mechanism causes the scaffold structure to be at least partially supported by said unidirectional wheel assemblies.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said support mechanism substantially lifts said unidirectional wheels off the ground.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a support mechanism, said support mechanism comprising: 
 a) a support bar;    b) a biasing device connected to the scaffold structure for biasing said support bar to a first position;    c) a latching mechanism connected to said support bar wherein said latching mechanism may be latched to the scaffold structure for retaining said support bar in a second position counter to said first position.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said first position is defined such that said unidirectional wheel assemblies at least partially support the scaffold structure and wherein said second position is defined such that said unidirectional wheel assemblies do not support the scaffold structure.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said second position is defined such that said unidirectional wheel assemblies at least partially support the scaffold structure and wherein said first position is defined such that said unidirectional wheel assemblies do not support the scaffold structure.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said operating device is arranged to be operated by an operator's hands and arms.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said operating device is arranged to be operated by an operator's feet and legs.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said transmission system is a shaft.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said shaft is modular for use with modular scaffold structures.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the scaffold structure comprises a hollow vertical support and said shaft extends through said hollow vertical support.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the scaffold structure comprises a journaling device for supporting said shaft.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said transmission system comprises: 
 a) a substantially inclined main shaft;    b) a substantially vertical lower shaft connected between said wheel frame and said main shaft; and    c) an upper shaft connected between said main shaft and said operating device.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said upper shaft is located proximal to the central vertical axis of the scaffold structure.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for human-powered movement of a scaffold structure comprising: 
 a) a horizontal lever bar;    b) a horizontal wheel frame;    c) a shaft connected between the center of said lever bar and the center of said wheel frame and connectable to the scaffold structure such that the scaffold structure is supported by said apparatus, such that actuation of said lever bar causes a corresponding movement in said wheel frame; and    d) two unidirectional wheel assemblies provided at opposite ends of said wheel frame, said unidirectional wheel assemblies comprising: 
 i) a wheel bracket connected to said wheel frame;  
 ii) a unidirectional wheel supported in said wheel bracket,  
   e) wherein actuating said lever bar in a first direction causes said wheel frame to pivot in a first angular direction about a first unidirectional wheel assembly attached to a first end of said wheel frame; and    f) actuating said lever bar in a second direction causing said wheel frame to pivot in a second angular direction about a second unidirectional wheel assembly attached to a second end of said wheel frame opposite to said first end, resulting in movement of the scaffold structure.    
   
   
       18 . A method for human powered movement of a scaffold structure comprising: 
 a) providing a movement apparatus to the scaffold structure, the movement apparatus comprising:    b) an operating device;    c) a wheel frame;    d) a transmission system connected between said operating device and said wheel frame and connectable to the scaffold structure, such that actuation of said operating device causes a corresponding movement in said wheel frame; and    e) two unidirectional wheel assemblies provided at opposite ends of said wheel frame, said unidirectional wheel assemblies comprising: 
 f) a wheel bracket connected to said wheel frame;  
 g) a unidirectional wheel supported in said wheel bracket;  
   h) actuating said operating device in a first direction causing said wheel frame to pivot in a first angular direction about a first unidirectional wheel assembly attached to a first end of said wheel frame; and    i) actuating said operating device in a second direction causing said wheel frame to pivot in a second angular direction about a second unidirectional wheel assembly attached to a second end of said wheel frame opposite to said first end,    j) wherein pivoting said wheel frame in said first angular direction and then pivoting said wheel frame in said second angular direction results in movement of the scaffold structure.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein an operator actuates said operating device using the operator's arms and hands.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein an operator actuates said operating device using the operator's legs and feet.