WALL MOUNTED HANDRAIL FOR SCAFFOLDING

Abstract

A handrail assembly for scaffolding comprising a first hand rail component and a second hand rail component, wherein said first hand rail component is slidingly connected to said second hand rail component; a first frame, wherein said first hand rail component is slidingly connected to said first frame; a first wall hook, wherein said first frame is slidingly connected to said first wall hook; a second frame, wherein said second hand rail component is slidingly connected to said second frame; and a second wall hook, wherein said second frame is slidingly connected to said second wall hook.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] A need exists for a wall mounted hand rail for scaffolding that is adjustable.

[0002] A need exists for a wall mounted hand rail for scaffolding that can be quickly and easily assembled for use and disassembled for storage.

[0003] Embodiments described below address these needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:

[0005] FIG. 1 shows hand rail components in accordance with an embodiment.

[0006] FIG. 2 shows a frame in accordance with an embodiment.

[0007] FIG. 3 shows a wall hook in accordance with an embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 4 shows two hand rail components slidingly connected to one another in accordance with an embodiment.

[0009] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment comprising two hand rail components slidingly connected to one another and slidingly connected to two frames that are each slidingly connected to a wall hook.

DESCRIPTION

[0010] In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, possible embodiments are not limited to the examples given, and specific details from one embodiment can be different in another embodiment.

[0011] An example of a wall mounted handrail assembly for scaffolding can comprise a first hand rail component and a second hand rail component, a first frame and a second frame, and a first wall hook and a second wall hook. The first hand rail component and the second hand rail component can be slidingly connected to one another. The first hand rail component can be slidingly connected to the first frame and the first frame can be slidingly connected to the first wall hook. The second hand rail component can be slidingly connected to the second frame and the second frame can be slidingly connected to the second wall hook.

[0012] FIG. 1 shows hand rail components 10 and 20 in accordance with an embodiment. Hand rail component 10 comprises hand rails 12, vertical member 14, and horizontal member 16. In this example of a hand rail component 10, hand rails 12 are fixedly connected to vertical member 14 and the bottom of vertical member 14 is fixedly connected to one end of horizontal member 16. Hand rail component 20 comprises hand rails 22, vertical member 24, and horizontal member 26. In this example of a hand rail component 20, hand rails 22 are fixedly connected to vertical member 24 and the bottom of vertical member 24 is fixedly connected to one end of horizontal member 26.

[0013] FIG. 2 shows a frame 30 in accordance with an embodiment. This example of a frame 30 comprises wall brace 32, vertical member 34, horizontal member 36, and support member 38. The center of wall brace 32 is fixedly connected to the bottom end of vertical member 34 and vertical member 34 is fixedly connected to an end of horizontal member 36. One end of support member 38 is fixedly connected to either or both of vertical member 34 and wall brace 32 at or near the junction of wall brace 32 and vertical member 34. The other end of support member 38 is fixedly connected to horizontal member 36 so that the three fixedly connected members 34, 36, and 38 form a truss. Wall brace 32 serves to restrain the frame 30 from rotation, keeping horizontal member 36 perpendicular to the wall.

[0014] FIG. 3 shows a wall hook 40 in accordance with an embodiment. In this example of a wall hook 40, vertical member 44 is fixedly connected at its top end to horizontal member 46. The opposite end of horizontal member 46 is fixedly connected to the top end of short vertical member 48.

[0015] FIG. 4 shows two hand rail components 10 and 20 slidingly connected to one another in accordance with an embodiment. Hand rail component 10 comprises hand rails 12, vertical member 14, and horizontal member 16. In this example of a hand rail component 10, hand rails 12 are fixedly connected to vertical member 14 and the bottom of vertical member 14 is fixedly connected to one end of horizontal member 16. Hand rail component 20 comprises hand rails 22, vertical member 24, and horizontal member 26. In this example of a hand rail component 20, hand rails 22 are fixedly connected to vertical member 24 and the bottom of vertical member 24 is fixedly connected to one end of horizontal member 26. In this example, the hand rails 12 and 22 comprise tubes and the outer diameter of hand rail 12 is smaller than the inner diameter of hand rail 22 allowing hand rail 12 to slide inside of hand rail 22. The distance that hand rail 12 slides inside of hand rail 22 determines the overall combined length of the joined hand rails 12 and 22. An example of how these hand rails 12 and 22 can be locked together could comprise a pin that passes through one or more tube walls of both hand rail 12 and hand rail 22. FIG. 5 shows an example handrail assembly for scaffolding that comprises a first hand rail component 10 and a second hand rail component 20 that are slidingly connected to one another. The first hand rail component 10 is slidingly connected to a first frame 30 and the first frame 30 is slidingly connected to a first wall hook 40. The second hand rail component 20 is slidingly connected to a second frame 30 that is slidingly connected to a second wall hook 40. First handrail component 10 and second handrail component 20 respectively comprise hand rails 12 and 22 (shown in FIG. 1) that are slidingly connected to one another. The handrail components 10 and 20 are slidingly connected to two frames 30 that are each slidingly connected to a wall hook 40.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, hand rail component 10 comprises hand rails 12, vertical member 14, and horizontal member 16. In this example of a hand rail component 10, hand rails 12 are fixedly connected to vertical member 14 and the bottom of vertical member 14 is fixedly connected to one end of horizontal member 16. Hand rail component 20 comprises hand rails 22, vertical member 24, and horizontal member 26. In this example of a hand rail component 20, hand rails 22 are fixedly connected to vertical member 24 and the bottom of vertical member 24 is fixedly connected to one end of horizontal member 26.

[0017] In the example shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the hand rails 12 and 22 comprise tubes and the outer diameter of hand rail 12 is smaller than the inner diameter of hand rail 22 allowing hand rail 12 to slide inside of hand rail 22. The distance that hand rail 12 slides inside of hand rail 22 determines the overall combined length of the joined hand rails 12 and 22. An example of how these hand rails 12 and 22 can be locked together could comprise a pin or ball detent that passes through holes in the tube walls of hand rail 12 and hand rail 22.

[0018] These examples of a frames 30 comprise wall braces 32, vertical members 34, horizontal members 36, and support members 38. The center of each wall brace 32 is fixedly connected to the bottom end of each vertical member 34 and each vertical member 34 is fixedly connected to an end of each horizontal member 36. One end of support member 38 is fixedly connected to either or both of vertical member 34 and wall brace 32 at or near the junction of wall brace 32 and vertical member 34. The other end of support member 38 is fixedly connected to horizontal member 36 so that the three fixedly connected members 34, 36, and 38 form a truss. Wall brace 32 serves to restrain the frame 30 from rotation, keeping horizontal member 36 perpendicular to the wall. It should be appreciated that other embodiments may feature frame configurations that are different than the one described above. For example, where the connection between vertical member 34 and horizontal member 36 is sufficiently rigid and strong, support member 38 may be omitted. For another example, where the connection between the wall and the wall mounted handrail assembly is adequate to prevent the frame's rotation, wall brace 32 may be omitted.

[0019] In the examples of frames and hand rail components shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, horizontal members 36 of frames 30 and the horizontal members 16 and 26 of the hand rail components 10 and 20 comprise tubes. The frames' horizontal members 36 have internal diameters are larger than external diameters of the hand rail components' horizontal members 16 and 26 and the hand rail components' horizontal members 16 and 26 slide inside the frames' horizontal members 36 as shown in FIG. 5. The distance between hand rail components 10 and 20 and the wall on which the hand rail assembly hangs can be adjusted according to how far the hand rail components' horizontal members 16 and 26 slide inside the frames' horizontal members 36. An example of how slidingly connected horizontal members 16 and 36 can be locked into position could comprise a pin or ball detent that passes through one or more tube walls of both horizontal members 16 and 36. An example of how slidingly connected horizontal members 26 and 36 can be locked into position could comprise a pin or ball detent that passes through one or more tube walls of both horizontal members 26 and 36.

[0020] In this example of a wall hook 40, vertical member 44 is fixedly connected at its top end to horizontal member 46. The opposite end of horizontal member 46 is fixedly connected to the top end of a short vertical member 48.

[0021] In the examples of wall hooks and frames shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vertical member 34 of frame 30 and the vertical member 44 of the wall hook 40 comprise tubes. In the example of a wall mounted hand rail assembly shown in FIG. 5, the frames' vertical members 34 have internal diameters are larger than external diameters of the wall hooks' vertical members 44 and the wall hooks' vertical members 44 slide inside the frames' vertical members 34. The distance between the top of a wall hook 40 and the frame's horizontal member 36 can be adjusted according to how far the wall hooks' vertical members 44 slide inside the frames' vertical members 34, so the height of the frames 30 and hand rail components 10 and 20 can thereby be adjusted to place hand rails 12 and 22 at the required height. An example of how slidingly connected vertical members 16 and 36 can be locked into position could comprise a pin or ball detent that passes through one or more tube walls of vertical members 34 and 44.

[0022] In the examples of hand rails shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the hand rails connect slidingly to one another so that overall hand rail length is adjustable.

[0023] In the example of a wall mounted hand rail assembly shown in FIG. 5, the wall hooks 40 connect slidingly to frames 30 so that the distance between the top of the wall hook 40 and the bottom of the frame 30 is adjustable thereby making hand rail height adjustable.

[0024] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, adjusting handrails for length also determines the distance between frames 30. Hand rail components 10 and 20 being slidingly connected to one another makes it possible to adjust distance between frames and wall hooks and allows flexibility in avoiding gaps or obstructions when mounting wall hooks on walls.

[0025] In some embodiments, sliding connections can be achieved using nested tubes comprising a larger tube and a smaller tube where the smaller tube's outer diameter is less than the larger tube's inner diameter allowing the smaller tube to slide inside the larger tube to adjust the tubes' combined length. A pin that penetrates the walls of both the larger tube and the smaller tube can lock the tubes together at a given distance to fix the tubes' combined length.

[0026] Besides tubes, embodiments could comprise structural members having various cross sections, including various hollow structural sections and beam profiles, that could form a sliding connection to adjust their combined length.

[0027] While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on the embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the embodiments might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A handrail assembly for scaffolding comprising: a first hand rail component and a second hand rail component, wherein said first hand rail component is slidingly connected to said second hand rail component; a first frame, wherein said first hand rail component is slidingly connected to said first frame; a first wall hook, wherein said first frame is slidingly connected to said first wall hook; a second frame, wherein said second hand rail component is slidingly connected to said second frame; and a second wall hook, wherein said second frame is slidingly connected to said second wall hook.

2. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 1 wherein: said first hand rail component comprises a first hand rail, a first hand rail component vertical member having a bottom, and a first hand rail component horizontal member 16 having a fixed end and a sliding end; wherein said first hand rail 12 is fixedly connected to said first hand rail component vertical member 14 and said first hand rail component vertical member's 14 bottom is fixedly connected to said first hand rail component horizontal member's 16 fixed end; wherein said second hand rail component 20 comprises a second hand rail 22, a second hand rail component vertical member 24 having a bottom, and a second hand rail component horizontal member 26 having a fixed end and a sliding end; wherein said second hand rail 22 is fixedly connected to said second hand rail component vertical member 24, and said second hand rail component vertical member's 24 bottom is fixedly connected to said second hand rail component horizontal member's 26 fixed end.

3. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 2 wherein: said first hand rail comprises a first hand rail structural member having a cross section; said second hand rail comprises a second hand rail structural member having a cross section; wherein said second hand rail structural member's cross section interfaces with said first structural member's cross section such that a sliding connection is formed between said first structural member and said second structural member.

4. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 3 wherein: Said second hand rail structural member comprises a hollow tubular cross section that has a hollow interior; and Said first hand rail structural member's cross section fits inside of said second hand rail structural member's hollow interior to form said sliding connection between said first hand rail structural member and said second hand rail structural member.

5. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 4 wherein: Said first structural member's cross section is generally shaped like an ellipse; and Said second structural member's cross section is generally shaped like an ellipse.

6. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 4 wherein: Said first structural member's cross section is generally shaped like a polygon; and Said second structural member's cross section is generally shaped like a polygon.

7. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 5 wherein: Said first structural member's cross section is generally shaped like a circle; and Said second structural member's cross section is generally shaped like a circle.

8. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 4 further comprising a fastener wherein: said fastener passes through said first hand rail's tube wall 12 and said fastener passes through said second hand rail's tube wall, thereby locking said first hand rail and said second hand rail 22 together.

9. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 1 wherein: said first frame 30 comprises first frame wall brace 32, a first frame vertical member 34, and a first frame horizontal member 36; wherein: said first frame vertical member has a bottom end and a top end; and said first frame horizontal member has a wall end and a hand rail end; and said first frame wall brace 32 is fixedly connected to said first frame vertical member's 34 bottom end; and said first frame vertical member's 34 bottom end is fixedly connected to first frame horizontal member's 36 wall end; and said second frame 30 comprises second frame wall brace 32, a second frame vertical member 34, and a second frame horizontal member 36; wherein: said second frame vertical member has a bottom end and a top end; and said second frame horizontal member has a wall end and a hand rail end; and said second frame wall brace 32 is fixedly connected to said second frame vertical member's 34 bottom end; and said second frame vertical member's 34 bottom end is fixedly connected to second frame horizontal member's 36 wall end.

10. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 9 wherein said first frame wall brace 32 engages said wall and serves to restrain said first frame 30 from rotation, thereby keeping said first frame horizontal member 36 perpendicular to said wall, and said second frame wall brace 32 engages said wall and serves to restrain said second frame 30 from rotation, thereby keeping said second frame horizontal member 36 perpendicular to said wall.

11. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 9 further comprising first frame support member 38; wherein first frame support member 38 comprises a wall end and a hand rail end; and said first frame support member's 38 wall end is fixedly connected to said first frame vertical member near said first frame vertical member's bottom end; and said first frame support member's hand rail end is fixedly connected to said first frame horizontal member's hand rail end, such that said first frame horizontal member, said first frame vertical member, and said first frame support member are fixedly connected to one another to form a truss; and further comprising second frame support member 38; wherein said second frame support member 38 comprises a wall end and a hand rail end; and said second frame support member's 38 wall end is fixedly connected to said second frame vertical member near said second frame vertical member's bottom end; and said second frame support member's hand rail end is fixedly connected to said second frame horizontal member's hand rail end, such that said second frame horizontal member, said second frame vertical member, and said second frame support member are fixedly connected to one another to form a truss.

12. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 8 wherein said fastener comprises a pin.

13. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 1 wherein said first wall hook comprises a long vertical first wall hook member having a top end, a horizontal first wall hook member having a first end and a second end, and a short vertical first wall hook member having a top end; wherein the long vertical first wall hook member's top end is fixedly connected to the horizontal first wall hook member's first end and the short vertical first wall hook member's top end is fixedly connected to the horizontal first wall hook member's second end; and said second wall hook comprises a long vertical second wall hook member having a top end, a horizontal second wall hook member having a first end and a second end, and a short vertical second wall hook member having a top end; wherein the long vertical second wall hook member's top end is fixedly connected to the horizontal second wall hook member's first end and the short vertical second wall hook member's top end is fixedly connected to the horizontal second wall hook member's second end.

14. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 1 wherein: said first hand rail component comprises a first hand rail, a first hand rail component vertical member having a bottom, and a first hand rail component horizontal member 16 having a fixed end and a sliding end; wherein said first hand rail 12 is fixedly connected to said first hand rail component vertical member 14 and said first hand rail component vertical member's 14 bottom is fixedly connected to said first hand rail component horizontal member's 16 fixed end; wherein said second hand rail component 20 comprises a second hand rail 22, a second hand rail component vertical member 24 having a bottom, and a second hand rail component horizontal member 26; wherein said second hand rail 22 is fixedly connected to said second hand rail component vertical member 24, and said second hand rail component vertical member's 24 bottom is fixedly connected to said second hand rail component horizontal member's 26 fixed end; wherein said first frame 30 comprises first wall brace 32, a first frame vertical member 34, and a first frame horizontal member 36; wherein: said first frame vertical member has a bottom end and a top end; and said first frame horizontal member has a wall end and a hand rail end; and said first wall brace 32 is fixedly connected to said first frame vertical member's 34 bottom end; and said first frame vertical member's 34 bottom end is fixedly connected to first frame horizontal member's 36 wall end; and wherein said second frame 30 comprises second wall brace 32, a second frame vertical member 34, and a second frame horizontal member 36; wherein: said second frame vertical member has a bottom end and a top end; and said second frame horizontal member has a wall end and a hand rail end; and said second wall brace 32 is fixedly connected to said second frame vertical member's 34 bottom end; and said second frame vertical member's 34 bottom end is fixedly connected to second frame horizontal member's 36 wall end; said first wall hook comprises a long vertical first wall hook member having a top end and a bottom end, a horizontal first wall hook member having a first end and a second end, and a short vertical first wall hook member having a top end; wherein the long vertical first wall hook member's top end is fixedly connected to the horizontal first wall hook member's first end and the short vertical first wall hook member's top end is fixedly connected to the horizontal first wall hook member's second end; and said second wall hook comprises a long vertical second wall hook member having a top end and a bottom end, a horizontal second wall hook member having a first end and a second end, and a short vertical second wall hook member having a top end; wherein the long vertical second wall hook member's top end is fixedly connected to the horizontal second wall hook member's first end and the short vertical second wall hook member's top end is fixedly connected to the horizontal second wall hook member's second end.

15. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 14 wherein: said first hand rail comprises a first hand rail structural member having a cross section; said second hand rail comprises a second hand rail structural member having a cross section; wherein said second hand rail structural member's cross section interfaces with said first structural member's cross section such that a sliding connection is formed between said first structural member and said second structural member.

16. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 15 wherein: Said second hand rail structural member comprises a tube having a hollow interior; and Said first hand rail structural member fits inside of said second hand rail structural member's hollow interior to form said sliding connection between said first hand rail structural member and said second hand rail structural member.

17. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 16 wherein the combined length of the slidingly connected first hand rail and second handrail can be adjusted by sliding said first hand rail structural member within said second hand rail structural member.

18. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 17 wherein: said first frame vertical member's 34 top end is slidingly connected to said long vertical first wall hook member's bottom end, said first frame horizontal member's 36 hand rail end is slidingly connected to said first hand rail component horizontal member's 26 sliding end, wherein said second frame vertical member's 34 top end is slidingly connected to said long vertical second wall hook member's bottom end, and wherein said second frame horizontal member's 36 hand rail end is slidingly connected to said second hand rail component horizontal member's 26 sliding end.

19. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 18 wherein said first frame vertical member's top end 34 is slidingly connected to said long vertical first wall hook member's bottom end, and said second frame vertical member's top end 34 is slidingly connected to said long vertical second wall hook member's bottom end.

20. The handrail assembly for scaffolding of claim 19 further comprising: a removable handrail fastener that locks said first handrail and said second handrail where they are slidingly connected such that said first handrail will not slide in relation to said second handrail; a removable first wall hook fastener that locks said first long vertical wall hook member and said first frame vertical member where they are slidingly connected such that said first long vertical wall hook member will not slide in relation to said first frame vertical member; a removable second wall hook fastener that locks said second long vertical wall hook member and said second frame vertical member where they are slidingly connected such that said second long vertical wall hook member will not slide in relation to said second frame vertical member; a removable first frame fastener that locks said first hand rail component horizontal member and said first frame horizontal member where they are slidingly connected such that said first frame horizontal member will not slide in relation to said first hand rail component horizontal member; and a removable second frame fastener that locks said second hand rail component horizontal member and said second frame horizontal member where they are slidingly connected such that said second frame horizontal member will not slide in relation to said second hand rail component horizontal member.