Platform support apparatus

May 6, 1958

L. B. HARSHBARGER ET AL PLATFORM SUPPORT APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1955

2,833,503

<img file="US2833503A_D0001.tif" />

United States

2,833,503

Patented May 6, 1958

2,833,503

PLATFORM SUPPORT APPARATUS

Lynn B. Harshbarger and Paul E. Meyer, Long Beach, Calif.

Application April 18,1955, Serial No. 501,842 2 Claims. (Cl. 248—235) to support a horizontal platform P against the face of a vertically extending wall W formed of a plurality of vertically extending wooden studs S. The platform P may be formed of one or more wooden planks 10. The S apparatus A includes at least two support members, generally designated 12 and 12'. Each of these support members 12 and 12' comprises an elongated, horizontally extending load-bearing element 14 formed at its; rear end with a hook 16 and at its front end with a socket 10 18. A diagonal compression element 20 extends downwardly and rearwardly from the underside of the front· portion of the load-bearing element 14. An abutment element 22 is formed at the rear end of this compression element 20. The hook 16 and the abutment element 15 22 are engageable with vertically spaced points op one, of the studs S so as to support the load-bearing element 14 of each support member 12 horizontally and at substantially a right angle relative to such stud.,

More particularly, the load-bearing element 14 and· 20 the compression element 20 will each preferably be formed of metal tubing. The upper end of the compression element 20 is rigidly affixed as by welding to the underside of the load-bearing element, In order to increase the rigidity of the support members 12, one or: 25:more vertical spacers 24 may be secured between the· load-bearing element and the compression element as by welding. As indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the hook 16 : includes a mounting element 26 of inverted L-shaped'; cross-section which forms an integral rearward extension 30: of the load-bearing element 14, and an engagement element 28 which is removably secured to one side 29 of the mounting element 26, as by a bolt and nut combinetion 30. The bolt and nut combination .30 is selectively inserted within one of a plurality of spaced-apart bores :35 32 formed along the length of the mounting element 26. The engagement element 28 includes a body 34, the face 35· of which extends at right angles to the ad-: jacent side of the mounting element 26, and an integral i forwardly extending lip 36 which extends forwardly from , 40 the side of the face 35 remote from the mounting element 26. An integral top plate 38 overlaps the upper web 40 of the mounting element 26 as indicated at 42 in Figure 3. The abutment element 22 includes a ver46 ^dcaIIy extending front wall 44 rigidly secured as by weld-: ing to the rear end of the compression element 20, and an integral side wall 46 which extends rearwardly from one side of the front wall 44. The socket 18 is defined by the bore of a short piece of metal tubing 48, which is _Q0 rigidly secured as by welding to the front end of the load-bearing element 14. The longitudinal axis of this ! tubing 48 extends in a vertical plane at right angles to ; the longitudinal axis of the load-bearing element.

In order to secure one of the support members 12 to a 55 stud S it is only necessary to arrange'.it in the manner ^rshown in Figures 1 and 2. Referring thereto, it will be ’ seen tiiat the side 29 of the mounting element 26 abuts one side of the stud S, the face 35 of the engagement element 28 abuts the rear side of the stud, and the lip 36 _eo abuts the rear portion of the opposite side of the stud.

The distance between the stud-abutting side 29 of the mounting element and the lip 36 should be only slightly greater than the width of the stud. The rear face of the front wall 44 of the abutment element 22 engages the front 55 face of the stud S while inner face 47 of the side wall 46 abuts the side of the stud engaged by the stud-abutting side 29 of the mounting element 26. The latter side 29 is in vertical alignment with the inner face 47 of the side wall 46. The distance between the midportion of the front 70 wall 44, and hence the center of the compression element 20 to the inner face 47 of the side wall 46 should be approximately one half the width of the stud S. The

The present invention relates generally to the field of construction and more particularly to novel apparatus for supporting a horizontally disposed platform against the face of a vertically extending wall.

In constructing walls of the type employing a plurality of aligned horizontally-spaced and vertically-extending wooden studs, it is desirable to utilize a platform upon which one or more workmen may stand while performing work upon the wall. Such platforms must be moved both vertically and horizontally relative, to the face of the wall as the work thereon progresses. Generally, such platforms are supported by means of scaffolding. The initial cost of such scaffolding, as well as the labor cost required in its assembly, reassembly as the platform is moved and disassembly after the job is completed, is comparatively high. Another disadvantage resulting from the use of scaffolding lies in the considerable time and effort required to transport it to and from a building site.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide platform support apparatus which eliminates the use of scaffolding.

Another object is to provide platform support apparatus which is light, compact and inexpensive as compared to scaffolding.

A further object is to provide platform support apparatus which will afford a rigid and secure mounting for a platform.

Yet another object, of the invention is to provide platform support apparatus which is simple of design and rugged of construction, whereby it may afford a long and trouble-free service life.

An additional object is to provide platform support apparatus which is readily adjustable both vertically and horizontally relative to a wall.

A more particular object is to provide apparatus of this nature which may be easily adjusted for use with studs of different size.

Another object is to provide platform support apparatus which incorporates integral means for mounting a guard rail adjacent the front end of the platform being supported.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing platform support apparatus embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the support members of said apparatus;

Figure 3 is a further enlarged perspective view of a detail of a hook utilized with said apparatus; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a guard rail utilized with said apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of apparatus A embodying the present invention is adapted

S,833,603 / 4 horizontal distance between the face 35 of the hook 16 fications and changes may be made thereto without deand the rear surface of the front wall 44 of the abutment parting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the element 22- approximates the- depth of the stud: When so arranged, the weight of the support member 12 will generally be sufficient to maintain it in place upon the stud. It may be desirable,-hp we ver, to insert one or more nails 50 through apertures 52 formed in the side wall 46 of the abutment element 22 for initially maintaining the support member in place.

Each-of the sockets 18 is adapted to removably support a vertically extending guard bar 54; As indicated in Figures 1 and 4, the upper end of these guard bars 54 are formed with U-shaped holders 56 adapted to removably receive a horizontal guard rail 58.

As indicated in Figure 1, at least two of the support members 12 and 12' will be utilized to support the platform P. Each of these support members will be mounted at the same elevation on the studs S. Once they have been so mounted one or more of the planks 10 will be laid across the top of the load-bearing elements 14. Thereafter, the wedging action afforded between the face 35 of the hook 16 and the rear face of the front wall 44 of the abutment element 22 of each support member 12 will securely anchor the support members against downward vertical movement relative to their respective studs. Moreover, the heavier the load placed upon the platform P, the greater the resistance against such downward movement.

In order to restrain the support elements from pivotal action relative to the vertical axis of the studs S, a sway brace, generally designated 60, may be interposed between one or both of the support members 12 and 12' and an adjoining stud. The sway brace 60 is preferably formed of a single length of wire rod arid it includes a rearwardly extending mounting pin 62, a rear arm 64 extending outwardly therefrom, an adjustment loop 66 which is formed by bending the wire rod about itself at the outer end of the rear arm 64, a front arm 68 extending forwardly from the adjustment loop 66, and a front mounting pin 70 formed at the inner end of the front arm 68. The rear mounting pin 62 is: pivotally disposed within a bore 72 formed in an ear 74 which is integrally secured to the mounting element 26. The front mounting pin 70 is pivotally disposed within a similar bore (not shown) formed in an L-shaped bracket 78 which is rigidly affixed as by welding to one side of the-load-bearing element 14.

A cotter pin 80 may be inserted through the forward portion of the front mounting pin 70 so as to hold it in place. The adjustment loop 66 is adapted to receive one or more nails 82 which are driven¹ into the stud adjacent the one to go which the support member 12 is affixed. The width of this mounting loop provides for inaccuracies in the distance between the adjoining studs S.

It should be particularly noted that the provision of the plurality of bores 32 in the mounting element 26 of the 55 hook 16 permits the support members to be utilized with studs of varying depth.

While there has been shown and described hereinbefore what is presently considered to be the preferred form of the present invention, it will be apparent that various modi- θθ following claims.