Cantilever platform board assembly

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a platform board assembly defining a front, a rear, and two sides and having: a plank having a free end towards the front and a fixed end towards the rear; a T-plate having a bottom extension and a top extension, wherein the bottom extension of the T-plate is connected to the fixed end of the plank; a vertical support member wherein the vertical support member is connected to the top extension of the T-plate; at least one ratchet stop mounted on a first side of the platform board assembly, wherein the ratchet stop is includes: a spool; a ratchet wheel rotatable about the spool; and a pawl configured to engage and disengage with the ratchet wheel; and a flexible connector engaged with the spool.

1 . A platform board assembly defining a front, a rear, and two sides and comprising:
 a plank having a free end towards the front and a fixed end towards the rear;   a T-plate having a bottom extension and a top extension, wherein the bottom extension of the T-plate is connected to the fixed end of the plank;   a vertical support member wherein the vertical support member is connected to the top extension of the T-plate;   at least one ratchet stop mounted on a first side of the platform board assembly, wherein the ratchet stop is comprised of a spool; a ratchet wheel rotatable about the spool; and a pawl configured to engage and disengage the ratchet wheel; and   a flexible connector engaged with the spool.   
     
     
         2 . The platform board assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second ratchet stop mounted on a second side of the platform board assembly, wherein the second ratchet stop is comprised of a second spool; a second ratchet wheel rotatable about the second spool; and a second pawl configured to engage and disengage the second ratchet wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The platform board assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible connector is further engaged to the second spool of the second ratchet stop. 
     
     
         4 . The platform board assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the flexible connector is comprised of nylon webbing material. 
     
     
         5 . The platform board assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plank comprises a rectangular frame having two lateral support members connected to two longitudinal support members; and further wherein the plank includes a grating within the rectangular frame. 
     
     
         6 . The platform board assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of eyebolts installed along each of the longitudinal support members. 
     
     
         7 . The platform board assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the plank is comprised of a lightweight aluminum material. 
     
     
         8 . The platform board assembly of  claim 7 , further wherein the first ratchet stop is bolted to the bottom extension of the T-plate and the plank. 
     
     
         9 . A method for installing a platform board assembly comprising the steps of:
 providing a plank having two longitudinal support members;   providing a vertical support member affixed to an end of the plank, wherein the vertical support member includes two flanges, wherein a first flange is facing a first side of the platform board assembly and wherein a second flange is facing a second side of the platform board assembly;   providing a first ratchet stop mounted along the first side of the platform board assembly and a second ratchet stop mounted along the second side of the platform board assembly;   maneuvering the platform board assembly to a desired location on a pole;   engaging a nylon strap at a first point of the nylon strap to the first ratchet stop;   connecting the pole to the vertical support member via the nylon strap; and   engaging a second point of the nylon strap to the second ratchet stop.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of rotating a ratchet wheel of the ratchet stop in a first direction and tightening the nylon strap against the pole. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of engaging a pawl bar of the ratchet stop; rotating the ratchet wheel in a second direction; loosening the nylon strap; and loosening the connection between the vertical support member and the pole. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing eyebolts installed along each longitudinal support member of the plank and wherein the step of maneuvering the platform assembly comprises the steps of attaching cables the eyebolts and lifting the platform board assembly via helicopter. 
     
     
         13 . A platform board assembly comprising:
 a scaffold having a rectangular frame defining a front end and a rear end;   a vertical support member connected to the rear end of the scaffold;   a supporting bar, wherein a first end of the supporting bar is affixed proximate to an end of the vertical support member and wherein a second end of the supporting bar is affixed to the scaffold; and   a first ratchet tie-down winch located on a first side of the platform board assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The platform board assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising a second, a third and a fourth ratchet tie-down winch located on the first side of the platform board assembly, and further wherein each of the four ratchet tie-down winches each include a nylon strap. 
     
     
         15 . The platform board assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the vertical support member is connected to the rear end of the scaffold via two three-way extension plate members, one on each side of the platform board assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The platform board assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the first ratchet tie-down winch is bolted to the scaffold and the three-way extension plate; wherein the second ratchet tie-down winch and the third ratchet tie-down winch are each bolted to the three-way extension plate and the vertical support member; and further wherein the fourth ratchet tie-down winch is bolted to the vertical support member above the location of the three-way extension plate. 
     
     
         17 . The platform board assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the vertical support member comprises an I-beam having two flanges connected by a web partition. 
     
     
         18 . The platform board assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the rectangular frame of the scaffold comprises two longitudinal members along the side of the platform board assembly; and wherein a plurality of eyebolts are installed along the longitudinal member. 
     
     
         19 . The platform board assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of eyebolts is at least partially housed within a tubing within the rectangular frame. 
     
     
         20 . The platform board assembly according to  claim 19 , further comprising a steel pole partially bounded by the flanges and the web partition of with the I-beam. 
     
     
         21 . An assembly comprising:
 a vertical support member;   a scaffold positioned perpendicular to the vertical support member, the scaffold having a front end and a rear end;   a first supporting bar, wherein a first end of the first supporting bar is affixed proximate to an end of the vertical support member and wherein a second end of the first supporting bar is affixed to the scaffold;   a first three-way extension plate and a second three-way extension plate affixed to join the vertical support member and the scaffold;   a plurality of ratchet tie-down winches utilizing synthetic straps attached to the first three way extension plate member, wherein at least one of the plurality of ratchet tie-down winches is attached vertically above the scaffold and at least one of the plurality of ratchet tie-down winches is attached vertically below the scaffold; and   a steel pole, wherein the synthetic straps contact the steel pole to secure the vertical support against the steel pole.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the first and second three-way extension plates are strength reinforcing structures. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the vertical support member is an I-beam having parallel flanges connected by a web. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the parallel flanges and web contact the steel pole. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the scaffold further comprises a rectangular frame of two parallel longitudinal members.