Work platform with latch assembly and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11808048-B2
Application number	US-201916590009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2019
Priority date	Mar 22, 2016
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A scaffold upon which a person stands includes a platform with a first leg assembly rotatably attached to the platform. The scaffold includes a latch assembly having a latch pivot axis coupled to the platform. The scaffold includes a stud attached to a first leg of the first leg assembly to which the latch assembly engages when the first leg assembly is moved into the extended position to automatically lock the first leg assembly in the extended position where the latch assembly is in a set position. When the latch assembly is moved out of the set position, the stud on the first leg disengages from the latch assembly and the first leg assembly is able to rotate about the first leg assembly pivot axis to a folded position. A method for using a scaffold.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a platform having a longitudinal axis;
a first leg assembly rotatably attached to the platform, the first leg assembly having:
a first leg, and
a second leg in spaced relationship and in parallel with the first leg,
wherein the first leg assembly rotates between an extended position and a folded position about a first leg assembly pivot axis;

a latch assembly coupled to the platform;
a stud attached to and extending partially away from the first leg without contacting the second leg, wherein the stud engages with the latch assembly when the first leg assembly is moved into the extended position and the latch assembly is in a secured position;
an L-shaped bracket having a primary portion to which the first leg is rotatably attached and to which the platform is attached, the L-shaped bracket at least partly disposed between the first leg and the platform and including a secondary portion extending away from the primary portion at an angle, wherein the secondary portion is shorter than the primary portion and provides a rotational stop for the first leg when the first leg is in the extended position,
wherein the latch assembly is coupled to the secondary portion of the L-shaped bracket, wherein, when the latch assembly is moved out of the secured position by a pressing force against the latch assembly, the stud disengages from the latch assembly and the first leg assembly is free to rotate around the first leg assembly pivot axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a latch pivot axis around which the latch assembly rotates and the first leg assembly pivot axis are in a spaced relationship and permanently fixed in place relative to each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the latch assembly includes a latch hook that engages with the stud.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the latch assembly includes a latch pivot about which the latch hook rotates from the secured position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the latch assembly includes a latch actuator that moves the latch assembly out of the secured position when the pressing force is applied to the latch actuator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the latch assembly includes a latch hook that engages with the stud and extends towards a middle of the platform.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the latch assembly includes a latch spring that biases the latch assembly in the secured position by applying a restoring force to automatically move the latch assembly back to the secured position after the latch assembly has been moved from the secured position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the latch assembly includes a latch hook, wherein, when the first leg assembly is moved to the extended position from the folded position, the stud cams a leading edge of the latch hook, moves the latch hook, advances beyond the leading edge of the latch hook, and then locks in place under a restoring force of a latch spring after clearing the leading edge of the latch hook.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the L-shaped bracket includes an edge extending from the secondary portion to contact a cross bar attached to the first leg and the second leg when the first leg assembly is in the extended position to acts as the rotational stop.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a latch pivot extends outward from the secondary portion relative to the longitudinal axis of the platform, and a leg pivot extends to rotatably attached the first leg to the platform.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stud has a circular cross section.

12. An apparatus comprising:
a platform having a first end and a longitudinal axis;
a bracket attached in proximity to the first end of the platform, the bracket including a primary portion coupled flush to a side edge of the platform and a secondary portion extending away from the primary portion at an angle to provide a free wall extending beyond the side edge and terminating in a bracket edge;
a first leg assembly having:
a first leg rotatably attached to the bracket,
a second leg in spaced relationship and in parallel with the first leg, and
a cross bar attached to the first leg and the second leg,
wherein the first leg assembly rotates between an extended position and a folded position about a first leg assembly pivot axis, and
wherein the bracket edge and the free wall provide a rotational stop to the first leg assembly at the extended position; and

a latch assembly having a latch pivot axis, the latch assembly coupled to the free wall of the bracket, and
wherein the latch pivot axis and the first leg assembly pivot axis are in spaced relationship and permanently fixed in place relative to each other,
wherein, when the first leg assembly is moved into the extended position, the latch assembly locks the first leg assembly in the extended position when the latch assembly is in a secured position,
wherein, when the latch assembly is moved out of the secured position, the first leg assembly is free to rotate partially around the first leg assembly pivot axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the latch assembly includes a latch spring that biases the latch assembly in the secured position by applying a restoring force to automatically move the latch assembly back to the secured position after the latch assembly has been moved from the secured position.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the latch assembly includes a latch actuator that moves the latch assembly out of the secured position when a pressing force is applied to the latch actuator.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a stud attached to and extending partially away from the first leg without contacting the second leg, wherein the stud engages with the latch assembly when the first leg assembly is moved into the extended position and the latch assembly is in the secured position, wherein, when the latch assembly is moved out of the secured position by a pressing force against the latch assembly, the stud disengages from the latch assembly.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a stud that engages with a latch hook of the latch assembly when the latch assembly is in the secured position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein when the first leg assembly is moved to the extended position from the folded position, the stud cams a leading edge of the latch hook, moves the latch hook, advances beyond the leading edge of the latch hook, and then locks in place under a restoring force of a latch spring after clearing the leading edge of the latch hook.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the stud has a circular cross section.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bracket edge contacts the cross bar attached to the first leg and the second leg when the first leg assembly is in the extended position to act as the stop to the first leg assembly at the extended position.

Assignees

• Werner Co

Inventors

• Woodward Steve
• Dangrow Joe
• Parker Thomas W
• Somerfield Michael A

Classifications

• E04G1/04 Primary

  the members being exclusively poles, rods, beams, or other members of similar form and simple cross-section · CPC title

• E04G1/32

  Other free-standing supports, e.g. using trestles (stands or trestles in general F16M11/00 {, work benches B25H1/00}) · CPC title

• E04G1/34 Primary

  Scaffold constructions able to be folded in prismatic or flat parts or able to be turned down · CPC title

• B25H5/00 Primary

  Tool, instrument or work supports or storage means used in association with vehicles; Workers' supports, e.g. mechanics' creepers {(collecting or removing exhaust gases in workshops B08B15/002; vehicle lifting devices, e.g. jacks, platforms or ramps B66F)} · CPC title

• E04G1/30

  Ladder scaffolds {(ladders having platforms E06C1/39, platforms on, or for use on; ladders E06C7/16)} · CPC title