US3930548A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motorized scaffold attachment
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-02-03
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Granted: 1976-01-06
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Expires: 1995-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A small portable motorized attachment for propelling portable scaffolds from place to place is provided comprising a pair of electrically operated propulsion units adapted to detachably replace the front caster wheels of a scaffold and a control means for operating the units, each unit comprising a base having a propulsion wheel operatively connected to a friction drive means and a motor swingably cantilevered from the base with the weight of the cantilevered assembly pressing a gear driven friction drive wheel into engagement with the propulsion wheel so that the units when stably connected with one another in place on the scaffold act in unison to brake, clutch and propel the scaffold.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Wallraff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:00
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04G; E04G1/00; E04G1/24; B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/14; E04G2001/242; E04G2001/244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A self-propelling attachment for light duty platform supporting scaffold towers of the type generally used for overhead finishing work in the installation of wiring and lighting fixtures, duct work ceilings and ceiling finishing operations and the like, which towers have supporting caster wheels detachably mounted on the feet thereof so they may be rolled from place to place, said attachment comprising at least two propulsion units and operating means interconnected therewith for independent operation of said units, each propulsion unit comprising a base including means thereon for detachably attaching said base to the foot of a tower in place of the normal caster wheel, wheel mounting means depending downwardly from said base and having a propulsion wheel freely rotatably mounted thereon, a motor, and drive means operatively interconnecting said motor and said propulsion wheel, means attaching said motor and drive means to said base, said drive means including a drive wheel frictionally engaging said propulsion wheel, said means attaching said motor and drive means to said base including means causing effective disengagement of said drive wheel from said propulsion wheel upon engagement of the propulsion wheel with an obstacle in its path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A self-propelling attachment for light duty platform supporting scaffold towers of the type generally used for overhead finishing work in the installation of wiring and lighting fixtures, duct work ceilings and ceiling finishing operations and the like, which towers have supporting caster wheels detachably mounted on the feet thereof so they may be rolled from place to place, said attachment comprising at least two propulsion units and operating means interconnected therewith for independent operation of said units, each propulsion unit comprising a base including means thereon for detachably attaching said base to the foot of a tower in place of the normal caster wheel, wheel mounting means depending downwardly from said base and having a propulsion wheel freely rotatably mounted thereon, a motor, and drive means operatively interconnecting said motor and said propulsion wheel, means attaching said motor and drive means to said base, said drive means including a drive wheel frictionally engaging said propulsion wheel, said means attaching said motor and drive means to said base including means causing effective disengagement of said drive wheel from said propulsion wheel upon engagement of the propulsion wheel with an obstacle in its path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
A self-propelling attachment for light duty platform supporting scaffold towers of the type generally used for overhead finishing work in the installation of wiring and lighting fixtures, duct work ceilings and ceiling finishing operations and the like, which towers have supporting caster wheels detachably mounted on the feet thereof so they may be rolled from place to place, said attachment comprising at least two propulsion units and operating means interconnected therewith for independent operation of said units, each propulsion unit comprising a base including means thereon for detachably attaching said base to the foot of a tower in place of the normal caster wheel, wheel mounting means depending downwardly from said base and having a propulsion wheel freely rotatably mounted thereon, frame means swingably attached to said base for swinging movement toward and away from said propulsion wheel, a motor and a drive means affixed to said frame means, said drive means including a drive wheel frictionally engaging said propulsion wheel and limiting movement of said frame means toward said propulsion wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
A self-propelling attachment for light duty platform supporting scaffold towers of the type generally used for overhead finishing work in the installation of wiring and lighting fixtures, duct work ceilings and ceiling finishing operations and the like, which towers have supporting caster wheels detachably mounted on the feet thereof so they may be rolled from place to place, said attachment comprising at least two propulsion units and operating means interconnected therewith for independent operation of said units, each propulsion unit comprising a base including means thereon for detachably attaching said base to the foot of a tower in place of the normal caster wheel, wheel mounting means depending downwardly from said base and having a propulsion wheel freely rotatably mounted thereon, frame means swingably attached to said base for swinging movement toward and away from said propulsion wheel, a motor and a drive means affixed to said frame means, said drive means including a drive wheel frictionally engaging said propulsion wheel and limiting movement of said frame means toward said propulsion wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The attachment of claim 2 wherein said frame means includes a supporting stand and carrying means for said unit when not in use.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The attachment of claim 2 wherein said frame means includes a supporting stand and carrying means for said unit when not attached, and means operatively connected to said frame adapted to maintain said frame in a position such that said friction wheel remains disengaged from said propulsion wheel when said propulsion unit is attached to a scaffold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The attachment of claim 2 including stabilizer means rigidly interconnecting said propulsion units to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The attachment of claim 2 including means on each propulsion unit for attaching the drive means to a tower for maintaing the drive wheel disengaged from the propulsion wheel when it is desired to roll the scaffold by other means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The attachment of claim 2 wherein said control means includes control switches remote from said drive means and flexibly interconnected therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The attachment of claim 2 wherein said attachment includes means rigidly interconnecting said propulsion units with one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A portable propulsion means for scaffolding towers of the type having caster wheels on the feet thereof for rolling the tower from place to place, said propulsion means comprising a motorized wheeled propulsion unit having a base, means on the base for attaching the same to the foot of a scaffold tower, a freely rotatable propulsion wheel carried by said base, a motor pivotally mounted on said base for free swinging movement toward and away from said propulsion wheel, drive means rigidly attached to said motor and interconnecting said motor and said propulsion wheel, said drive means including a driven wheel frictionally engaging said propulsion wheel to propel the unit, and control means operably connected to said propulsion unit for operation remote therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A portable propulsion means for scaffolding towers of the type having caster wheels on the feet thereof for rolling the tower from place to place, said propulsion means comprising a motorized wheeled propulsion unit having a base, means on the base for attaching the same to the foot of a scaffold tower, a freely rotatable propulsion wheel carried by said base, a motor pivotally mounted on said base for free swinging movement toward and away from said propulsion wheel, drive means rigidly attached to said motor and interconnecting said motor and said propulsion wheel, said drive means including a driven wheel frictionally engaging said propulsion wheel to propel the unit, and control means operably connected to said propulsion unit for operation remote therefrom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The propulsion unit of claim 9 including a frame carrying said motor and drive means, said frame being pivotally mounted at its forward end to said base for swinging movement toward and away from said propulsion wheel on an axis parallel to the propulsion wheel axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The propulsion unit of claim 9 including a frame carrying said motor and drive means, said frame being pivotally mounted at its forward end to said base for swinging movement toward and away from said propulsion wheel on an axis parallel to the propulsion wheel axis and including at its rearward end a combination carrying means and supporting stand.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-05 | 1979-07-07 | 1980-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-05 | 1983-07-07 | 1984-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-05 | 1987-07-07 | 1988-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |