Method of Erecting An Offset Scaffold Platform

Abstract

The invention includes a method of building an offset scaffold platform to an existing scaffold structure by using pivoting horizontal scaffold truss members, where each truss has a first end with a pivoting connector that pivot vertically and second ends that have second connectors that pivot horizontally. Each pivoting connector has a movable latch that, when latched, restricts uncoupling from a coupled vertical scaffold member but allows the pivoting coupled truss to remain moveable about the pivoting connector. The method includes the step of connecting one truss to a vertical scaffold member in an existing frame about the vertically pivoting end and connecting the second truss to another vertical scaffold member in the existing scaffold structure about one of its pivoting ends. Each pivoting connector latch is moved to the latched position, each truss is pivoted about its coupled end, and the uncoupled ends are each connected to vertical scaffold members which are supported from an overhead structure. Scaffold boards are positioned between the pivoted trusses to create a working surface therebetween.

1 . A method of erecting a suspended scaffold platform to an existing scaffold structure having vertical scaffold members, comprising the steps of:
 providing a first and second horizontal scaffold truss member, each comprising an upper horizontal member and a lower horizontal member separated from the other but fixedly joined with at least one bracing member, forming, respectively a first truss frame and a second truss frame, each upper and lower horizontal member of each said first and said second horizontal scaffold truss member having a first and a second end respectively;   first connectors positioned on said first end of said upper horizontal member and said lower horizontal member of said first and said second horizontal scaffold truss members, at least one of said first connectors configured to removably connect to a scaffold vertical member at an annular member that is fixedly positioned on and extending outwardly from said scaffold vertical member;   a plurality of second connectors, one of said plurality of second connectors being pivotally attached on each of said second ends of said upper and said lower horizontal members on said first and said second horizontal scaffold truss members; each second connector configured to removably connect to a scaffold vertical member at an annular member that is fixedly positioned on and extending outwardly from said scaffold vertical member.   whereby each of said second connectors is pivotable in a horizontal plane with respect to said associated horizontal scaffold truss member; each of said second connectors having a moveable latch member moving between a latched position and an unlatched position, whereby in said latched position, when said respective second connector is coupled to an annular member on a vertical scaffold member, said latch member resists decoupling of said respective second connector from the annular member, but said second connector remains pivotable with respect to said horizontal scaffold truss member on which said second connector is positioned;   said method further comprising the steps of coupling said first horizontal scaffold truss member to a first vertical scaffold member of said existing scaffold structure, by coupling said second connectors on said upper and said lower horizontal members of said first horizontal scaffold truss member to a first and second annular members on said first vertical scaffold member, where each annular member extends outwardly from said first vertical scaffold member;   moving each of said latch members on said second connectors of said upper and lower horizontal member of said first horizontal scaffold truss member to a latched position;   pivoting said coupled first horizontal scaffold truss member about said second connectors on said first horizontal scaffold truss member to move said first end of said horizontal scaffold truss members of said first horizontal scaffold truss member from a location proximal to the existing scaffold structure into a desired orientation distal to the existing scaffold structure;   said method further comprising the steps of coupling said second horizontal scaffold truss member to a second vertical scaffold member of said existing scaffold structure, by coupling said second connectors on said upper and lower horizontal members of said second horizontal scaffold truss member to a first and second annular members on said second vertical scaffold member, where each annular member extends outwardly from said vertical scaffold member;   moving each of said latch members on said second connectors of said upper and said lower horizontal member of said second horizontal scaffold truss member to a latched position;   pivoting said coupled second horizontal scaffold truss member about said second connectors on said second horizontal scaffold truss member to move said first end of said horizontal scaffold truss members of said second horizontal scaffold truss member from a location proximal to the existing scaffold structure into a desired orientation distal to the existing scaffold structure;   placing scaffold planking boards between said pivoted first and second horizontal scaffold truss members to create a working surface;   coupling a third vertical scaffold member to said at least one first connector of said first horizontal scaffold truss member to an annular member positioned on said third vertical scaffold member coupling a fourth vertical scaffold member to said first connectors of said second horizontal scaffold truss member to an annular members positioned on said third vertical scaffold member supporting said third vertical scaffold member from an overhead structure; and supporting said fourth vertical scaffold member from said overhead structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of providing a third horizontal scaffold truss member comprising an upper horizontal member and a lower horizontal member separated from the other but fixedly joined with at least one bracing member, forming, respectively a third truss frame, each upper and lower horizontal member of said third horizontal scaffold truss member having a first and second end respectively;
 first connectors, connectors positioned on said first end of said upper horizontal members and said lower horizontal member of said third horizontal scaffold truss members, at least one of said first connectors configured to removably connect to a scaffold vertical member at an annular member that is fixedly positioned on and extending outwardly from said scaffold vertical member; 
 a plurality of second connectors, one of said plurality of second connectors being attached on each of said second ends of said upper and said lower horizontal members on said first and said second horizontal scaffold truss members; each second connector configured to removably connect to a scaffold vertical member at an annular member that is fixedly positioned on and extending outwardly from said scaffold vertical member; 
 each of said first and second connectors having a moveable latch member moving between a latched position and an unlatched position, whereby in said latched position, when said respective second connector is coupled to an annular member on vertical scaffold member, said latch member resists decoupling of said respective first or second connector from the annular member; 
 coupling said at least one of said first connector on said third horizontal scaffold member to said annular member on said third vertical scaffold member; coupling said second connectors on said third horizontal truss member with said annular connectors on said fourth vertical scaffold members, whereby said first, second and third horizontal scaffold members are horizontally aligned below the working surface. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  whereby said step of coupling said third vertical scaffold member to said first horizontal truss member is performed before the step of pivoting said first horizontal scaffold member; and where the step of coupling said fourth vertical scaffold member to said second horizontal truss member is performed before the step of pivoting said second horizontal scaffold member. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of said first connectors is fixedly attached on one of said first ends of said horizontal members of said first horizontal scaffold truss member and the other of said first ends first connector, the at least one first connector, is pivotally mounted on said other first end, and pivots vertically. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of pivoting said first horizontal scaffold truss member is independent from the step of pivoting said second horizontal scaffold truss member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said at last one of said first connectors is pivotally attached on said first ends of said first horizontal scaffold truss member and said second horizontal scaffold truss member respectively and pivots vertically. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the existing scaffold structure is supported for said overhead structure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the existing scaffold structure is supported by a ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said at least one first connector is fixedly attached on each of said second end of said first horizontal scaffold truss and said second horizontal scaffold truss respectively, and configured to connect to an annular member positioned on a scaffold vertical member. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of pivoting said first horizontal scaffold truss member is independent from the step of pivoting said second horizontal scaffold truss member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first and second horizontal truss members are connected to said first and second vertical scaffold members whereby said working surface is a horizontal surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of said movable latch members is movable either slidably or pivotably. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of said movable latch members comprises a wedge vertically slidable or horizontally slidable. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and said second connectors further comprises a pin or hook sections, each pin or hook section configured to be engageable with said annular member on said first or said second vertical scaffold member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the annular members are rosettes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the annular members comprise an upstanding annular cup. 
     
     
         17 . A method of erecting a suspended scaffold platform to an existing scaffold structure having vertical scaffold members, comprising the steps of:
 providing a first and second horizontal scaffold truss member, each comprising an upper horizontal member and a lower horizontal member separated from the other but fixedly joined with at least one bracing member, forming, respectively a first truss frame and a second truss frame, each said upper and said lower horizontal members of each said first and said second horizontal scaffold truss member having a first and a second end respectively;   first connectors attached on said first end of said upper horizontal members and said lower horizontal member of said first and said second horizontal scaffold truss members, at least one of said first connector pivotally attached and configured to removably connect to scaffold vertical member at an annular member that is fixedly positioned on and extending outwardly from said scaffold vertical member; said at least one first connector pivoting in a vertical plane; and   said vertically pivotable first connector having a moveable first end latch member moving between a latched position and an unlatched position, whereby in said latched position, when said respective vertically pivotable first connector is coupled to an annular member on a vertical scaffold member, said first end latch member resists decoupling of said respective vertically pivotable first connector from the annular member, but said vertically pivotable first connector remains pivotable with respect to said horizontal scaffold truss member on which said vertically pivotable first connector is positioned;   second connectors being pivotally attached each of said second ends of said upper and said lower horizontal members on said first and second horizontal scaffold truss members; sech second connector pivoting horizontally and configured to removably connect to a scaffold vertical member at an annular member that is fixedly positioned on and extending outwardly from said scaffold vertical member; each second connector pivoting in a horizontal plane and each having a moveable second end latch member moving between a latched position and an unlatched position, whereby in said latched position, when said respective second connector is coupled to an annular member on a vertical scaffold member, said second end latch member resists decoupling of said respective second connector from the annular member, but said second connector remains pivotable with respect to said horizontal scaffold truss member on which said second connector is positioned;   said method further comprising the steps of coupling said first horizontal scaffold truss member to a first scaffold member of said existing scaffold structure, by coupling said vertically pivotable first connector on of said first horizontal scaffold truss member to a first annular member on said first vertical scaffold member, where each annular member extends outwardly from said first vertical scaffold member, thereby creating a coupled end and an uncoupled end of said first horizontal scaffold truss member;   moving said latch member on said vertically pivotable first connector on said first scaffold truss member to a latched position;   pivoting said coupled first horizontal scaffold truss member about said vertically pivotable first end connector on said first horizontal scaffold truss member to move said second ends of said horizontal scaffold members of said first horizontal scaffold truss member from a location proximal to the existing scaffold structure into a desired orientation distal to the existing scaffold structure;   said method further comprising the steps of coupling said second horizontal scaffold truss member to a second vertical scaffold member of said existing scaffold structure, by coupling either said pivoting first end connector or said pivoting second end connectors on said second horizontal truss frame to a annular member(s) on said second vertical scaffold member, where each annular member extends outwardly from said second vertical scaffold member, creating a coupled end and an uncoupled end of said second horizontal scaffold truss member;   moving each said respective latch members on said respective coupled pivoting connectors on said coupled end of said second horizontal scaffold truss member to a latched position;   pivoting said coupled second horizontal scaffold truss member about said coupled pivoting connectors on said second horizontal scaffold truss member to move said uncoupled end of said second horizontal scaffold truss member from a location proximal to the existing scaffold structure into an orientation distal to the existing scaffold structure;   placing scaffold planking boards between said pivoted first and second horizontal scaffold truss members to create a working surface therebetween;   coupling a third vertical scaffold member to said uncoupled end of said first horizontal scaffold truss member;   coupling a fourth vertical scaffold member to said uncoupled end of said second horizontal scaffold truss member;   supporting said third vertical scaffold member from an overhead structure; and   supporting said fourth vertical scaffold member from said overhead structure.