Plank Assembly for a Scaffolding

Abstract

A plank assembly for a scaffolding includes a main plank and at least one extender plank adapted to telescopically extend or retract relative to the main plank. The at least one extender plank, when extended relative to the main plank, provides an additional support platform for a work crew.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plank assembly for a scaffolding, the plank assembly comprising:
 a main plank; and   at least one extender plank adapted to telescopically extend or retract relative to the main plank, wherein the at least one extender plank, when extended relative to the main plank, provides an additional support platform for a work crew.   
     
     
         2 . The plank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extender plank includes a plurality of bars with each bar separated from an adjacently arranged bar by a gap. 
     
     
         3 . The plank assembly of  claim 1  further including
 at least one first hook attached to a first lateral side of the main plank, and 
 at least one second hook attached to a second lateral side of the main plank,
 wherein the at least one first hook and the at least one second hook are adapted to engage with a frame of the scaffolding to support the plank assembly on the frame. 
 
 
     
     
         4 . The plank assembly of  claim 3  further including a plurality of locks adapted to lock the at least one first hook and the at least one second hook with the frame to prevent the disengagement of the plank assembly from the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The plank assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each lock includes a spring biased latch member biased in a lock position. 
     
     
         6 . The plank assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extender plank includes a first extender plank adapted to extend in a first longitudinal direction form the main plank and a second extender plank adapted to extend in a second longitudinal direction from the main plank, the second longitudinal direction being opposite to the first longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The plank assembly of  claim 6 , wherein
 the first extender plank includes a plurality of first bars with each first bar separated from an adjacently arranged first bar by a first gap,   the second extender plank includes a plurality of second bars with each second bar separated from an adjacently arranged second bar by a second gap, wherein
 the first bars are arranged inside the second gaps and the second bars are arranged inside the first gaps when both the first extender plank and the second extender plank are arranged in retracted positions. 
   
     
     
         8 . A scaffolding comprising:
 at least four upright members adapted to be supported on a ground;   two laterally extending horizontal members arranged spaced apart and opposite to each other, the at least two horizontal members being supported on the upright members; and   a plank assembly supported on the horizontal members and including
 a main plank arranged, at least partially, between the two horizontal members and connected to the two horizontal members, and 
 at least one extender plank adapted to telescopically extend or retract relative to the main plank, wherein the at least one extender plank, when extended relative to the main plank, provides an additional support platform for a work crew. 
   
     
     
         9 . The scaffolding of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one extender plank includes a plurality of bars with each bar separated from an adjacently arranged bar by a gap. 
     
     
         10 . The scaffolding of  claim 9 , wherein the plank assembly further includes
 at least one first hook attached to a first lateral side of the main plank and removably engaged to the one of the horizontal members, and   at least one second hook attached to a second lateral side of the main plank and removably engaged with other of the horizontal members.   
     
     
         11 . The scaffolding of  claim 10 , wherein the plank assembly further includes a plurality of locks adapted to lock the at least one first hook and the at least one second hook with the horizontal members to prevent the disengagement of the plank assembly from the horizontal members. 
     
     
         12 . The scaffolding of  claim 11 , wherein each lock includes a spring biased latch member biased in a lock position. 
     
     
         13 . The scaffolding of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one extender plank includes a first extender plank adapted to extend in a first longitudinal direction form the main plank and a second extender plank adapted to extend in a second longitudinal direction from the main plank, the second longitudinal direction being opposite to the first longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         14 . The scaffolding of  claim 13 , wherein
 the first extender plank includes a plurality of first bars with each first bar separated from an adjacently arranged first bar by a first gap,   the second extender plank includes a plurality of second bars with each second bar separated from an adjacently arranged second bar by a second gap, wherein
 the first bars are arranged inside the second gaps and the second bars are arranged inside the first gaps when both the first extender plank and the second extender plank are arranged in retracted positions. 
   
     
     
         15 . A plank assembly for a scaffolding, the plank assembly comprising:
 a main plank; and   at least one extender plank adapted to telescopically extend or retract relative to the main plank, wherein the at least one extender plank, when extended relative to the main plank, provides an additional support platform for a work crew, the least one extender plank includes a plurality of bars with each bar separated from an adjacently arranged bar by a gap.   
     
     
         16 . The plank assembly of  claim 15  further including
 at least one first hook attached to a first lateral side of the main plank, and 
 at least one second hook attached to a second lateral side of the main plank,
 wherein the at least one first hook and the at least one second hook are adapted to engage with a frame of the scaffolding to support the plank assembly on the frame. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The plank assembly of  claim 16  further including a plurality of locks adapted to lock the at least one first hook and the at least one second hook with the frame to prevent the disengagement of the plank assembly from the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The plank assembly of  claim 17 , wherein each lock includes a spring biased latch member biased in a lock position. 
     
     
         19 . The plank assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one extender plank includes a first extender plank adapted to extend in a first longitudinal direction form the main plank and a second extender plank adapted to extend in a second longitudinal direction from the main plank, the second longitudinal direction being opposite to the first longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         20 . The plank assembly of  claim 19 , wherein
 the first extender plank includes a plurality of first bars with each first bar separated from an adjacently arranged first bar by a first gap,   the second extender plank includes a plurality of second bars with each second bar separated from an adjacently arranged second bar by a second gap, wherein
 the first bars are arranged inside the second gaps and the second bars are arranged inside the first gaps when both the first extender plank and the second extender plank are arranged in retracted positions.