Scaffold Planks

Abstract

A first scaffold plank member having a board like member having a top surface, first and second opposing end edges and a first and second opposing side edges; a first and second side rails, the side rail attached to the board like member near the respective side edges, each respective side rail extending downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having an inward and an outward facing surface, positioned near both the first and second opposing end edges, a first and second clips separated by a distance from one another, the first and second clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member; a series of slots through the top surface, said series of slots positioned near the first side edge, each slot of said series of slots having a portion of the slot positioned inwardly of the inward facing surface, each slot being sized to accept a portion of a clip through the slot, two of said slots are separated a distance to accept two clips on a second scaffold board whereby, if a portion of a second scaffold plank's first and second clips are inserted through these slots, so that the second scaffold plank is supported by the first scaffold plank.

1 . A first scaffold plank member comprising a board like member having a top surface, first and second opposing end edges and a first and second opposing side edges;
 a first and second side rails, said first side rail attached to the board like member near the first side edge, and the second side rail attached near said second side edge, each respective side rail extending downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having at least one outward facing surface and at least one inward facing surface;   positioned near both the first and second opposing end edges, a first and second clip attached to the first scaffold plank separated by a distance from one another, the first and second clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member;   a series of slots through the top surface, said series of slots positioned near the first side edge, each slot of said series of slots having a portion of the slot positioned inwardly of one of said at least one inward facing surfaces of said first side rail, each slot in said series of slots being sized to accept a portion of a clip through said slot, each slot of said series of slots positioned through said top surface of said first scaffold plank and at least two of said slots in said series of slots are separated a distance to accept two clips on a second scaffold board whereby, if a portion of a second scaffold plank's first and second clips on said first end edge of said second scaffold plank edge are inserted through two of said slots in said series of slots, the lips of such inserted first and second clips would be positioned near to one of said at least one inward facing surfaces of said first side rail of said first scaffold plank and the channels of the second scaffold plank are thereby supported by the first scaffold plank, the top surfaces of said first and second scaffold board's top surfaces are closely aligned, and the first end edge of the second scaffold board is solely supported by said first scaffold plank.   
     
     
         2 . The first scaffold plank of  claim 1  where each of said series of slots are aligned with one another on an axis on said top surface extending between said first and second end edges. 
     
     
         3 . The first scaffold plank of  claim 1  where each of said series of slots begin at said first side edge and extend toward said second side edge. 
     
     
         4 . The first scaffold plank of  claim 3  wherein each of said series of slots are positioned partially through said first side rail. 
     
     
         5 . The first scaffold plank of  claim 4  wherein each of said slots in series of slots has a bottom portion that terminates in said first side rail, said bottom forming a landing site to couple to a clip on a second scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a second scaffold board on said bottom portion. 
     
     
         6 . The first scaffold plank of  claim 2  wherein said slots are offset a distance from said first edge, and said top of said scaffold board between each slot and said first edge form landing sites to couple to a clip on a second scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a second scaffold board on said landing site. 
     
     
         7 . The first scaffold plank of  claim 3  where said series of slots are not equally spaced along said first edge. 
     
     
         8 . The first scaffold board according to  claim 4  wherein the clip width above said channel, said width being less than or equal to the depth of the slot bottom from the top surface. 
     
     
         9 . A method of coupling a first scaffold plank with a second scaffold plank on at least one end, in a scaffold structure comprising horizontal and vertical scaffold members;
 the first scaffold plank comprising a board like member having a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second terminating ends each with an end edge, and a first and second opposing side edges;   a first and second side rails, said first side rail attached to the board like member near the first side edge, and the second side rail attached near said second side edge, each respective side rail extending downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having at least one outward facing surface and at least one inward facing surface;   positioned near both the first and second opposing end edges, a first and second clip attached to the first scaffold plank separated by a distance from one another, the first and second clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member;   a series of slots through the top surface, said series of slots positioned near the first side edge, each slot of said series of slots having a portion of the slot positioned inwardly of one of said at least one inward facing surfaces of said first side rail, each slot in said series of slots being sized to accept a portion of a clip through said slot, each slot of said series of slots positioned through said top surface of said first scaffold plank and at least two of said slots in said series of slots are separated a distance to accept two clips on a second scaffold board;   said first scaffold board supported by a first and second horizontal member on its two terminating end edges;   said second scaffold board comprising:   a board like member having a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second terminating ends each with an end edge, and a first and second opposing side edges;   a first and second side rails, said first side rail attached to the board like member near the first side edge, and the second side rail attached near said second side edge, each respective side rail extending downwardly from the top surface, each side rail having at least one outward facing surface and at least one inward facing surface;   positioned near both the first and second opposing end edges, a first and second clip attached to the first scaffold board separated by a distance from one another, the first and second clips extending outwardly from the respective end edges, each clip having a terminating downwardly projecting lip, and a channel section located between the lip and the respective end edge, the channel section shaped to engage a horizontal scaffold member   the method comprising the steps of:   positioning said second scaffold board at substantially 90 degrees to said first scaffold board, said second scaffold board positioned such that the first and second clips of the second scaffold board on the first terminating end are aligned with corresponding slots on the first scaffold board;   lowering the second scaffold board's first terminating end so that a portion of the first and second clips on the second scaffold board member pass through the aligned slots of the first scaffold board until the second scaffold board's first terminating end is supported solely by the first scaffold board member without said second scaffold board's first terminating end being directly coupled to a horizontal scaffold member.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  where said first scaffold plank further comprises where each of said series of slots are aligned with one another on an axis on said top surface extending between said first and second end edges. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  where said first scaffold plank further comprises where each of said series of slots begin at said first side edge and extend toward said second side edge. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  where said first scaffold plank further comprises wherein each of said series of slots are positioned partially through said first side rail. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  where said first scaffold plank further comprises:
 wherein each of said slots in series of slots has a bottom portion that terminates in said first side rail, said bottom forming a landing site to couple to a clip on a second scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a second scaffold board on said bottom portion. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  where said first scaffold plank further comprises wherein said slots are offset a distance from said first edge, and said top of said scaffold board between each slot and said first edge form landing sites to couple to a clip on a second scaffold board inserted into one of said slots to thereby support a second scaffold board on said landing site. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  where said first scaffold plank further comprises where said series of slots are not equally spaced along said first edge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  where said first scaffold plank further comprises the first scaffold board according to  claim 4  wherein the clip width above said channel, said width being less than or equal to the depth of the slot bottom from the top surface.