Scaffold apparatus, method and system

Abstract

Scaffold components and system for coupling a horizontal member to a vertical member of a scaffold, comprising a horizontal member and a wedge head attached to each end of the horizontal member each wedge head having an associated wedge assembly.

1 . An apparatus for coupling a horizontal member to a vertical member of a scaffold, comprising:
 a horizontal member and a first wedge head coupled to a first end of the horizontal member; and   a first wedge assembly partially within the first wedge head, the first wedge assembly pivotably coupled to the first wedge head, the first wedge assembly further comprising a first handle communicably coupled via a first wedge linkage assembly to a first wedge.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the first handle of the first wedge assembly further being springably coupled to the first wedge head, said first handle, when actuated, operable to cause the first wedge to fully or partially extend or retract into the first wedge head. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a second wedge head coupled to a second end of the horizontal member; and
 a second wedge assembly partially within the second wedge head, the second wedge assembly pivotably coupled to the second wedge head, the second wedge assembly further comprising a second handle communicably coupled via a second wedge linkage assembly to a second wedge.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising the second handle of the second wedge assembly further being springably coupled to the second wedge head, said second handle, when actuated, operable to cause the second wedge to fully or partially extend or retract into the second wedge head. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a cam mechanism and a first rod within the horizontal member, the first end of the first rod rotatably coupled to the first handle via the first wedge assembly and the second end of the first rod pivotably coupled to a first end of the cam mechanism within the horizontal member, the center of the cam mechanism being rotatably coupled to the horizontal member. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a second rod within the horizontal member, the first end of the second rod rotatably coupled to the second handle via the second wedge assembly and the second end of the second rod pivotably coupled to the second end of a cam mechanism within the horizontal member. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , the first handle operatively coupled to the first wedge and first rod and second handle coupled to the second wedge and second rod, the first rod being operatively coupled to the second rod via the cam mechanism, such that when the first handle is moved, the second handle simultaneously moves in correspondence, such that the first wedge and the second wedge extend or retract simultaneously. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in combination with a rosette having a set of radially arranged cut-outs, the rosette affixed in coaxial alignment with a vertical member. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each wedge head has mating elements corresponding to the radially arranged cut-outs of the rosette, wherein, when the mating elements of the wedge head are received in the radially arranged cut-outs of the rosette, the wedge assembly, when actuated, causes the wedge to rigidly couple the horizontal member to the rosette. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for coupling a horizontal member to a vertical member of a scaffold, comprising:
 a horizontal member and a first wedge head coupled to a first end of the horizontal member;   a first wedge assembly partially within the first wedge head, the first wedge assembly pivotably coupled to, and biased with reference to the first wedge head, the first wedge assembly further comprising a first handle and a first wedge;   a second wedge head coupled to a second end of the horizontal member;   a second wedge assembly partially within the second wedge head, the second wedge assembly pivotably coupled to, and biased with reference to the second wedge head, the second wedge assembly further comprising a second handle and a second wedge; and   the first handle of the first wedge assembly or the second handle of the second wedge assembly, when either are actuated, being operable to cause both of the first wedge and second wedge to fully or partially extend or retract, simultaneously.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a cable having a first end and a second end coupling the first handle and linkage assembly of the first wedge head at one end of the horizontal member to the second handle at the second wedge head via pulley at a second end of the horizontal member. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first wedge head serves as a housing around portions of the first handle and the second wedge head serves as a housing around portions of the second handle. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first handle is dimensioned as a substantially horizontal handle grip extension having a substantially vertical wedge extending in a substantially orthogonal direction due to an incurvature from the horizontal handle grip extension and wherein a cable linkage assembly is located proximate the bottom of the vertical lock extension and serves as an anchor point from the first handle to first end of the cable. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second handle is dimensioned as a substantially horizontal handle grip extension having a substantially vertical wedge extending in a substantially orthogonal direction due to an incurvature from the horizontal handle grip extension and wherein cable linkage assembly is located on the bottom of the horizontal handle grip extension between the end of the horizontal handle grip extension and the point of curvature from the horizontal handle grip extension to the vertical wedge and serves as an anchor point from second handle to second end of the cable. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein first handle has an aperture located proximate the point of curvature between the horizontal handle grip extension and the vertical wedge, said aperture configured to axially receive a pin, rivet, screw or other similar structure through the first handle so as to rotatably couple the first handle through the walls of the first wedge head; and
 the second handle has an aperture located proximate the point of curvature between the horizontal handle grip extension and the vertical wedge to axially receive a pin, rivet, screw or other similar structure through the second handle so as to rotatably couple the second handle through the walls of the second wedge head.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the tension of the cable operates to bias the wedge portions at each end of the horizontal member simultaneously in either the extended or retracted position depending on the position of their respective handles. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , in combination with a rosette having a set of radially arranged cut-outs, the rosette affixed in coaxial alignment with a vertical member. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein each wedge head has mating elements corresponding to the radially arranged cut-outs of the rosette, wherein, when the mating elements of the wedge head are received in the radially arranged cut-outs of the rosette, the wedge assembly, when actuated, causes the wedge to rigidly couple the horizontal member to the rosette. 
     
     
         19 . A method for coupling a horizontal member to a vertical member of a scaffold, comprising the steps of:
 providing a horizontal member having a wedge head coupled to each end of the horizontal member, the wedge heads each having therein a wedge assembly partially within the wedge head, each wedge assembly pivotably coupled to its respective wedge head, each wedge assembly further comprising a handle communicably coupled via a wedge linkage assembly to a wedge, the wedge linkage assemblies being operatively coupled via a cam mechanism within the horizontal member; and   disengaging either handle causing each wedge to simultaneously, partially retract into its respective wedge head.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of placing each wedge head on a corresponding rosette of a vertical member and engaging one of the handles so as to cause each wedge to lock the ends of the horizontal member simultaneously to the vertical members.