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Scaffold support bracket and assemblyRelated Patent Categories: Fire Escape, Ladder, Or Scaffold, Self-sustaining, Connector For Horizontal Or Diagonal BraceScaffold support bracket and assembly description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070187179, Scaffold support bracket and assembly. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO FOREIGN PRIORITY APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority from Canadian Application No. 2,535,970 entitled "Scaffold Support Bracket and Assembly," which was filed by Porfirio Simoes on Feb. 10, 2006. [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to the field of scaffold assemblies and supportive devices therefor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pivotable scaffold support bracket for releasably connecting a cross member to a vertical support tube. [0004] 2. Background of the Invention [0005] A scaffold assembly is a structure utilized during the construction phase of a building or when major services are required thereof. The scaffold assembly is assembled on site to provide a safe work platform for workers to have access to the building and is disassembled after use. [0006] The scaffold assembly consists of a plurality of vertical members and cross members, which are connected together using scaffold supportive devices, such as brackets and clamping devices. Vertical members and horizontal cross members are typically tube members that are joined together at various angles relative to each other to form the structure. One common scaffold assembly utilizes tubes and clamps. Horizontal tubes are releasably fastened to vertical tubes through the use of releasable clamps that join the vertical and horizontal tubes together. The clamps employed for connecting the horizontal and vertical tubes are two-part swivel clamps. This clamp consists of two opposing clamshell-style half clamps having bases that are joined together with a swivel joint. Each half clamp connects to a single tube. For example one part of the swivel clamp is connected to a vertical tube whereas the other part can swivel to accommodate connection to a horizontal tube. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,640 issued to Lovering discloses a horizontal scaffold brace that has limbs welded to a flattened end of the brace. The brace attaches to a vertical member through a socket, which is positioned along a vertical height of the vertical member. A wedge contained in the limbs passes through the socket to lock the brace to the vertical member. [0008] Lovering has certain shortcomings, in particular, the design of the connection device requires that the brace socket be fixed along the vertical member at a fixed position. This does not offer flexibility in connection of two members together, as the brace does not allow for pivoting action. Stated another way, the prior art does not allow the brace to be placed at any position along the vertical member. [0009] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved scaffold support bracket that offers greater flexibility in connecting cross members to vertical support tubes to form a scaffold assembly. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The present invention relates to a scaffold support bracket for use in assembling a scaffold support structure. The scaffold structure comprises a plurality of vertical support tubes and cross members that are connected together to form the scaffold assembly in accordance with the present invention. [0011] Vertical support tubes are positioned in a spaced-apart configuration to form the scaffold assembly. Cross members are releasably connected to the vertical members and span the distances between adjacent vertical support tubes. Each cross member has two end portions that define a brace end, each brace end having a hole extending therethrough. [0012] The scaffold support comprises a bracket having a pair of arms extending from opposing sides of a vertical planar base member. The arms converge to form a mouth configured to receive and mate with the brace end. The arms further comprise mutually aligned openings configured to receive a fastener fitted through the openings and the hole in the brace end. The configuration of the arms allows the brace end to pivot thereon. This allows the cross members to the span distances between vertical support tubes in a generally horizontal configuration to form a transom or a ledger, or in a diagonal orientation between vertical supports tubes to form a scaffold brace member. [0013] In other words, cross members may be connected at any location along a vertical support tube. This design feature provides greater flexibility and minimizes the work involved in assembling the scaffold structure since the connection between vertical support tubes and cross members are not made at fixed locations or positions along the vertical support tubes. Another advantage is the reduction in moving parts on the bracket itself and material cost to manufacture it. Still another advantage is the use of fewer clamping connections so that the scaffold assembly can be built in less time. [0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, a scaffold support bracket is provided for releasably connecting a cross member having a brace end to a vertical support tube. The bracket has a substantially vertical planar base member and a pair of arms extending generally forwardly from opposing sides of the base member along a generally horizontal axis. The arms converge to form a mouth having a slit extending from a front edge of the mouth toward its rear. The slit is defined by adjacent interior surfaces of the two arms. The two arms have mutually aligned openings and the width between the two arms is sufficiently wide to accept the cross member brace end. The openings are configured to receive a fastener for releasable connection to the brace end and for pivotable movements between the arms and the brace end. [0015] According to another aspect, the scaffold support bracket of the present invention includes mutually aligned slots formed on the arms. The slots are configured to accept a pin passing through the slots and extending through the brace end when the brace end is releasably connected to the bracket. The slots and the pin cooperate to limit pivotal movement of the cross member with respect to the bracket [0016] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the scaffold support bracket includes a half clamp having a tube clamping element and a base that is securely coupled to the base member of the bracket. The half clamp is operable to clamp onto the vertical support and secure the bracket thereon while a cross member is pivotally connected to the bracket. [0017] The scaffold support bracket of the present invention is intended for use in a scaffold assembly that includes a plurality of vertical support tubes, a plurality of cross members connected therebetween. The vertical support tubes are positioned in a spaced-apart configuration. The cross members each have at least one brace end adapted for releasable connection to the bracket that can then be releasably coupled to a vertical support tube. [0018] It is an object of the present invention to provide a scaffold support bracket that is simple in design, has few moving parts and is economical to manufacture. [0019] It is another object of the present invention to provide a scaffold support bracket that is readily adaptable to different scaffold applications and that is easily assembled and removed from a scaffold assembly. [0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, a scaffold support bracket is provided for releasably connecting a scaffold tube member of the type having a brace end to a scaffold vertical support tube of a scaffold assembly. The support bracket includes a substantially vertical planar base member which has an aperture extending that is adapted to receive a first fastener therein for attaching the bracket to the vertical tube; and a pair of arms extending generally away from opposing sides of the base member along a substantially horizontal axis. The arms converge to form a mouth having a substantially vertical slit extending from a front edge of the mouth to a rear edge of the mouth. The slit is defined between the arms which are spaced sufficiently apart to accept a brace end fitted therein. The arms further include mutually aligned openings that align with an opening extending through the brace end, to receive a second fastener for releasably connecting the brace end to the bracket. [0021] A plurality of substantially vertical support tubes are positioned in a spaced-apart configuration and a plurality of cross members each having a brace end positioned at opposing ends of the cross members. Each brace end has an opening extending therethrough; and at least one scaffold support bracket is releasably connected to one brace end of one of the cross members. The at least one bracket includes a substantially vertical planar base member that has an aperture extending therethrough. The aperture is adapted to receive a first fastener therein for attaching the bracket to a vertical support tube, and a pair of arms extending generally away from opposing sides of the base member along a substantially horizontal axis. The arms converge to form a mouth having a substantially vertical slit extending from a front edge of the mouth to a rear edge of the mouth. The slit is defined by the arms which are spaced sufficiently apart to accept the brace end. The arms further include mutually aligned openings that align with brace end opening, and the openings are adapted to receive a second fastener for releasably connecting the brace end to the bracket. [0022] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description, when read in association with the drawings and appended claims. Continue reading about Scaffold support bracket and assembly... Full patent description for Scaffold support bracket and assembly Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Scaffold support bracket and assembly patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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