Quick-connect/disconnect guardrail scaffolding system and method

Abstract

A quick-connect/disconnect guardrail scaffolding system includes a first scaffold guardrail having a first forked clasp, a second scaffold guardrail having a second forked clasp, and a third scaffold guardrail pivotally coupled to the first scaffold guardrail and releasably coupled to the second scaffold guardrail. A quick-connect/disconnect guardrail scaffolding system includes a scaffold platform and a scaffold guardrail releasably coupled thereto. They cooperate to constrain horizontal separation, constrain vertical separation, constrain relative pivoting in a first direction about a generally horizontal axis, and permit relative pivoting in a second direction about the axis. A quick-connect/disconnect guardrail scaffolding method includes removably engaging a forked clasp of a scaffold guardrail with a flange of a scaffold platform; abutting a generally planar surface of the scaffold guardrail with a generally planar surface of the scaffold platform concurrently with the removable engagement; and releasably coupling the scaffold guardrail to a second scaffold guardrail.

1 . A guardrail scaffolding system, comprising:
 a first scaffold guardrail including a first forked clasp;   a second scaffold guardrail including a second forked clasp; and   a third scaffold guardrail pivotally coupled to the first scaffold guardrail and releasably coupled to the second scaffold guardrail.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth scaffold guardrail pivotally coupled to the second scaffold guardrail and releasably coupled to the first scaffold guardrail.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pin releasably coupling the third scaffold guardrail to the second scaffold guardrail.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first forked clasp includes a plurality of tabs. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of tabs includes a first tab having a first generally planar surface, the plurality of tabs further includes a second tab having a second generally planar surface, and the first generally planar surface is generally coplanar to the second generally planar surface. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of tabs includes a third tab having a third generally planar surface spaced apart from and about parallel to the first generally planar surface and the second generally planar surface. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a fourth scaffold guardrail pivotally coupled to the second scaffold guardrail and releasably coupled to the first scaffold guardrail;   a first pin releasably coupling the third scaffold guardrail to the second scaffold guardrail; and   a second pin releasably coupling the fourth scaffold guardrail to the first scaffold guardrail.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a scaffold platform including a first flange removably extending into the first forked clasp.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the scaffold platform defines a generally rectilinear generally G cross-sectionally shaped channel and the clasp extends into the channel. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the channel includes a first wall, a second wall about parallel to the first wall, a third wall extending between the first wall and the second wall, generally perpendicular to the first wall, and generally perpendicular to the second wall, and a fourth wall extending generally perpendicularly from the second wall toward the first wall yet spaced apart from the first wall. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the clasp includes a tab abutting the fourth wall of the channel. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the scaffold platform further includes a first generally planar surface and the first scaffold guardrail further includes a first arm portion extending from the first forked clasp into abutment with the first generally planar surface. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first arm portion is generally L-shaped. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the scaffold platform further includes a second flange removably extending into the second forked clasp, the scaffold platform further includes a second generally planar surface, and the second scaffold guardrail further includes a second arm portion extending from the second forked clasp into abutment with the second generally planar surface. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first arm portion is generally L-shaped, and the second arm portion is generally L-shaped, and   the first forked clasp includes a plurality of tabs.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of tabs includes a first tab having a first generally planar surface, the plurality of tabs further includes a second tab having a second generally planar surface, and the first generally planar surface is generally coplanar to the second generally planar surface. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of tabs includes a third tab having a third generally planar surface spaced apart from and about parallel to the first generally planar surface and the second generally planar surface. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a fourth scaffold guardrail pivotally coupled to the second scaffold guardrail and releasably coupled to the first scaffold guardrail.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first pin releasably coupling the third scaffold guardrail to the second scaffold guardrail; and   a second pin releasably coupling the fourth scaffold guardrail to the first scaffold guardrail.   
   
   
       20 . A guardrail scaffolding system, comprising:
 a scaffold platform; and   a first scaffold guardrail releasably coupled to the scaffold platform;   wherein the first scaffold guardrail cooperates with the scaffold platform to constrain horizontal separation of the first scaffold guardrail from the scaffold platform, to constrain vertical separation of the first scaffold guardrail from the scaffold platform, to constrain pivoting of the first scaffold guardrail relative to the scaffold platform in a first direction about a generally horizontal first axis, and to permit pivoting of the first scaffold guardrail relative to the scaffold platform in a second direction about the first axis.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a second scaffold guardrail releasably coupled to the scaffold platform and releasably coupled to the first scaffold guardrail;   wherein the second scaffold guardrail cooperates with the scaffold platform to constrain horizontal separation of the second scaffold guardrail from the scaffold platform, to constrain vertical separation of the second scaffold guardrail from the scaffold platform, to constrain pivoting of the second scaffold guardrail relative to the scaffold platform in a first direction about a generally horizontal second axis, and to permit pivoting of the second scaffold guardrail relative to the scaffold platform in a second direction about the second axis; and   wherein the second scaffold cooperates with the first scaffold guardrail to constrain pivoting of the first scaffold guardrail relative to the scaffold platform in the second direction about the first axis, and to constrain pivoting of the second scaffold guardrail relative to the scaffold platform in the second direction about the second axis.