Rack Attachable to Scaffolding

Abstract

One or more rack modules may be semi-permanently attached to a deck to provide storage for material. Each rack module comprises a top horizontal member which may be adjusted in length to accommodate decks with different widths. A vertical member is attached to the top horizontal member; one or more horizontal arms extend out from the vertical member. One or more of the horizontal arms may be adjustable in length. Material may be stored on an arm or arms of a single rack module or may be disposed across multiple such arms, including across multiple such arms of multiple rack modules.

1 : A rack apparatus for attachment to a scaffold deck, the rack apparatus comprising:
 a horizontal top member comprising means to secure said horizontal top member to the scaffold deck;   a vertical member attached to the horizontal top member;   at least one horizontal arm attached to the vertical member below the level of the bottom of the horizontal top member.   
   
   
       2 : The rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the means to secure said horizontal top member to the scaffold deck comprises means to adjust the length of said horizontal top member and to thereby brace portions of the horizontal top member against or in relation to corresponding portions of a deck. 
   
   
       3 : The rack according to  claim 2 , where the means to adjust the length of said horizontal top member comprises a first means to adjust the gross length of the horizontal top member and a second means to make a final adjustment to the length of the horizontal top member and to releaseably secure the finally adjusted length. 
   
   
       4 : The rack according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one horizontal arm comprises means to adjust the length of said at least one horizontal arm. 
   
   
       5 : The at least one horizontal arm of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first arm portion, and   a second arm portion comprising:
 a cross-section sized to fit either
 within the cross-section of the first arm portion, or 
 around the exterior of the first arm portion, 
 
   and which first and second arm portions overlap along a length.   
   
   
       6 : The horizontal arm according to  claim 4 , where the first and middle arm portions further comprise at least one hole in each, where at least one such hole in the first arm portion and at least one such hole in the middle arm portion may be aligned along an imaginary central axis when the middle and the first arm portions are overlapped, and further comprising pin means extending through the imaginary central axis of a pair of aligned holes, which pin means prevents the first and middle arm portions from sliding relative to one another when so overlapped. 
   
   
       7 : The rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal top member further comprises:
 a first top portion comprising:
 a first clasp sized to accommodate a portion of a first side of a scaffold deck; 
   a middle top portion comprising:
 a cross-section sized to fit either
 within the cross-section of the first top portion, or 
 around the exterior of the first top portion; 
 
   an end-cap portion comprising:
 a second clasp sized to accommodate a portion of a second side of a scaffold deck opposite the first side; 
   
     and which first and middle top portions overlap along a length. 
   
   
       8 : The horizontal top member of  claim 7 , further comprising attachment hardware, which attachment hardware adjusts the overall length of the horizontal top member and secures the middle top portion and/or the end-cap to the first top portion. 
   
   
       9 : The horizontal top member of  claim 8 , further comprising a rod extending from the first and/or middle top portions to the end-cap and/or to the attachment hardware. 
   
   
       10 : The horizontal top member of  claim 9  where the rod comprises at least one male threaded portion which at least one male threaded portion is threaded into at least one threaded female receptacle and where at least one female threaded receptacle is located in the first and/or middle top portions and/or in the attachment hardware. 
   
   
       11 : The horizontal top member of  claim 10  where the attachment hardware comprises a threaded female receptacle into which the at least one male threaded rod portion is threaded. 
   
   
       12 : The horizontal top member of  claim 9  where the first or middle top portions comprise a threaded female receptacle into which the at least one male threaded rod portion is threaded. 
   
   
       13 : The horizontal top member of  claim 9 , where the attachment hardware comprises a locking cam lever. 
   
   
       14 : The locking cam lever of  claim 13 , where the locking cam lever comprises a threaded female receptacle into which the at least one male threaded rod portion is threaded. 
   
   
       15 : The horizontal top member of  claim 9 , where the attachment hardware comprises a tightening knob. 
   
   
       16 : The tightening knob of  claim 15 , comprising a threaded female receptacle into which the at least one male threaded rod portion is threaded. 
   
   
       17 : The horizontal top member of  claim 9 , further comprising a pawl, where the rod is notched, and where the pawl engages with the notched rod when the first top portion and the middle top portions are overlapped. 
   
   
       18 : The horizontal top member of  claim 7 , where the first and middle top portions further comprise at least one hole or notch in each, where at least one such hole or notch in the first top portion and at least one such hole or notch in the middle top portion may be aligned along an imaginary central axis when the middle and the first top portions are overlapped, and further comprising pin means extending through the imaginary central axis of a pair of aligned holes or notches, which pin means prevents the first and middle top portions from sliding relative to one another when so overlapped. 
   
   
       19 : The horizontal top member of  claim 7 , where the end cap overlaps with the middle top portion and is separable therefrom. 
   
   
       20 : The horizontal top member of  claim 7 , further comprising a buckle securing the first top portion to the middle top portion.