Folding Utility Scaffold

Abstract

The claimed invention relates to a folding utility scaffold that greatly reduces the space requirement for shipment when the utility scaffold is in the folded configuration while maintaining or increasing stability. The scaffold includes first and second ladder frames and a hinge assembly interconnecting the ladder frames. The scaffold comprises first and second ladder frames and a hinge assembly interconnecting the ladder frames. The hinge assembly enables movement of the scaffold between an unfolded configuration in which the ladder frames are spaced apart and a folded configuration in which the ladder frames are disposed side by side, i.e., with the ladder frames touching. The ladder frame and hinge assembly are designed to avoid interference between components of the hinge assembly and components of the ladder frame in the folded configuration so that the ladder frames can be disposed in side-by-side relation in the folded configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A folding scaffold movable between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration, the folding scaffold comprising:
 first and second ladder frames including an upper end and a lower end;   a hinge assembly interconnecting the first and second ladder frames, the hinge assembly comprising a hinge enabling movement of the scaffold between an unfolded configuration in which the ladder frames are spaced apart and a folded configuration in which the ladder frames are disposed side by side;   first and second removable walkboards configured to extend between respective ladder rungs on the first and second ladder frames to form a platform; and   first and second base assemblies removably connected to the lower end of the first and second ladder frames respectively, each base assembly comprising:
 a support post; 
 a connector configured to connect the base member with a respective ladder frame; and 
 a strut extending between the support post and the support; and 
   a step configured to extend between the struts of the base assemblies outside the envelope of the ladder frame.   
     
     
         2 . The folding scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the base assemblies are configured to fit inside the first and second walkboards when the scaffold is disassembled, 
     
     
         3 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein each ladder frame comprises two vertical supports and a plurality of ladder rungs extending between the vertical supports. 
     
     
         4 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge crosses one or more of the ladder rungs on the first and second ladder frames in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The scaffold of  claim 4 , wherein the ladder rungs of the first and second ladder frames crossed by the hinge each include a crimp providing clearance for the hinge to avoid interference between the hinge and the ladder rungs. 
     
     
         6 . The scaffold of  claim 5 , wherein the crimp is offset from a longitudinal axis of the ladder rungs in a direction away from the hinge to provide a clearance space between corresponding ladder rungs of the first and second ladder frames in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The scaffold of  claim 6 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises:
 a pair of lower cross braces pivotally connecting the hinge to the first and second ladder frames respectively; and   a pair of upper cross braces pivotally connecting the hinge to the first and second ladder frames respectively.   
     
     
         8 . The scaffold of  claim 7 , wherein the lower cross braces connect to the respective ladder frames at a first connection point and the hinge at a second connection point, the first and connection points being selected such that the lower cross members do not cross a ladder rung of the first and second ladder frames in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The scaffold of  claim 8 , wherein the upper cross braces connect to the respective ladder frames at a third connection point and to the hinge at a fourth ladder frame, the third and fourth connection points are selected such that the upper cross members do not cross a ladder rung of the first and second ladder frames in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The scaffold of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second ladder extensions configured to be movably connected to the first and second ladder frames respectively so as to be movable between retracted and extended positions. 
     
     
         11 . The scaffold of  claim 10 , wherein each ladder extension comprises two vertical supports and at least one ladder rung connected between the vertical supports. 
     
     
         12 . The scaffold of  claim 11 , further comprising a spreader bar configured to be connected between vertical supports of the first and second ladder extensions.