Clamp for adjustable height scaffolds

Abstract

A lock for mounting an angle bracket on a dimpled upright comprising a first side member and a second side member, a load bearing inner jaw and a load bearing outer jaw coupled to the side members with at least one of the jaws comprising a roller jaw having a size and shape to matingly engage with at least one dimple on a dimpled upright surface without marking or galling the upright surface, and a mounting device adapted to couple the side members to the angle bracket with the side members rotatable about a pivot axis of the mounting device relative to the angle bracket.

1 . A lock for prolong the life of an adjustable height scaffold comprising:
 a first side member and a second side member;   a load bearing inner jaw and a load bearing outer jaw coupled to the side members with at least one of the jaws comprising a roller jaw having a size and shape to matingly engage with at least one dimple on a dimpled upright surface without marking or galling the dimpled upright surface while preventing uncontrolled sliding; and   a mounting device adapted to couple the side members with the side members rotatable about a pivot axis of the mounting device for raising and lowering the lock.   
   
   
       2 . The lock of  claim 1  wherein the mounting device comprises a fulcrum bar adapted to couple the side members to an angle bracket with the side members rotatable about a pivot axis of the fulcrum bar relative to the angle bracket. 
   
   
       3 . The lock of  claim 1  wherein the first side member and the second side member form a generally U-shaped band with the side members each having an attached end and a free end. 
   
   
       4 . The lock of  claim 3  including a pair of linkage members connecting the free end of the side members to an angle bracket with the side members rotatable about a pivot axis of the fulcrum bar relative to the linkage members. 
   
   
       5 . The lock of  claim 2  including a bracket cage coupled to the angle bracket. 
   
   
       6 . The lock of  claim 1  wherein the side members includes a first orifice and a second orifice with the first orifice disposed beneath a plane defined by the pivot axis of the mounting device and the second orifice. 
   
   
       7 . The lock of  claim 1  wherein a contact region of the inner jaw and a contact region of the outer jaw are co-linear with the pivot axis of the mounting device with a distance between the contact region of the outer jaw and the contact region of the inner jaw being greater than the maximum width of an upright to enable the up and down movement of the lock on the upright through the rotation of the lock in a counter clockwise direction. 
   
   
       8 . The lock of  claim 1  wherein the load bearing inner jaw comprises an inner roller jaw and the load bearing outer jaw comprises an outer roller jaw with the roller jaws engaging the upright surface without marking or galling the upright surface. 
   
   
       9 . The lock of  claim 8  wherein a pivot axis of the inner roller jaw is disposed beneath a plane defined by a pivot axis of the outer roller jaw and the pivot axis of the mounting device. 
   
   
       10 . The lock of  claim 8  wherein one of the roller jaws comprises a dimple engaging roller jaw. 
   
   
       11 . The lock of  claim 8  wherein the lower edge of the dimple is offset to provide a positive resistance against uncontrolled sliding of the lock. 
   
   
       12 . The lock of  claim 8  wherein the pivot axis of the mounting device is disposed in the same plane as an axis of the inner roller jaw and an axis of the outer roller jaw. 
   
   
       13 . The lock of  claim 10  wherein the dimple engaging roller jaw includes a pair of outer roller jaws comprising rubber cylinder and an inner roller jaw located between the outer roller and comprising a metal with the roller jaws mounted between a pair of side plates. 
   
   
       14 . A lock for prolong the life of an adjustable height scaffold comprising:
 a dimpled upright surface having at least one integral dimple thereon;   a pair of side members;   an outer roller jaw and an inner roller jaw coupled to the side members with at least one of the roller jaws comprising a dimple engaging roller jaw having a size and shape to matingly engage with at least one dimple on the dimpled upright surface without marking or galling the dimpled upright surface to prevent uncontrolled sliding of the lock while prolong the life of the dimpled upright surface; and   a fulcrum bar adapted to couple the side members to an angle bracket with the side members rotatable about an axis of the fulcrum bar relative to the angle bracket.   
   
   
       15 . The lock of  claim 14  including an upper bracket cage and a lower bracket cage for capturing a dimpled upright and balancing the torque created by placing a load on a horizontal arm of the angle bracket. 
   
   
       16 . The lock of  claim 14  wherein at least one of the roller jaws comprises a plurality of rollers each pivotally mounted on a pair of side plates with the plurality of rollers each having a size and shape to contact the dimpled upright surface without marking or galling the dimpled upright surface. 
   
   
       17 . The lock of  claim 14  wherein a contact region of the inner jaw and a contact region the outer jaw are co-linear with the pivot axis of the fulcrum bar with a distance between the contact region of the outer jaw and the contact region of the inner jaw being greater than the maximum width of a dimpled upright to enable the up and down movement of the lock on the dimpled upright through rotation of the lock in a counter clockwise direction. 
   
   
       18 . The lock of  claim 14  wherein a pivot axis of the inner roller jaw is disposed beneath a plane defined by a pivot axis of the outer roller jaw and the pivot axis of the mounting device. 
   
   
       19 . A lock for an adjustable height scaffold comprising:
 a dimpled upright surface having at least one dimple integrally form thereon;   a pair of side members;   an inner roller jaw and an outer roller jaw coupled to the side members with at least one of the jaws comprising a plurality of rollers each pivotally mounted on a pair of side plates with the plurality of rollers each having a size and shape to contact the dimpled upright surface without marking or galling the dimpled upright surface to prevent uncontrolled sliding of the lock on the upright while prolonging the life of the dimpled upright surface; and   a fulcrum bar adapted to couple the side members to an angle bracket with the side members rotatable about an axis of the fulcrum bar relative to the angle bracket.   
   
   
       20 . The lock of  claim 19  including a bracket cage coupled to the angle bracket.