Scaffold Bracket Leg Interchangeability for Distance Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scaffolding extension solutions are complex, expensive, and difficult to install, with moving parts prone to jamming or sticking due to exposure to materials like paint, plaster, or mortar, posing safety risks and inefficiencies in adjusting distances between scaffolding and building facades.

Innovation Solution

A scaffold bracket with a simplified design comprising a first and second support means, each with a short and long leg at right angles, allowing for adjustable attachment to scaffolding uprights via a coupling that can be fastened to either leg, using bolts and spring pins for secure attachment, and featuring struts for added stability, enabling easy conversion between wide and narrow work surface extensions without full dismantling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If scaffolding extension consoles with adjustable mechanisms are used to compensate for distance variations between the working plane and facade, then the distance adjustment capability is improved, but the device complexity and installation effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance adjustment capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is divided into two interchangeable legs (first leg and second leg) with different lengths, allowing the working level to be adjusted by simply swapping legs rather than using complex adjustable mechanisms. This segmentation provides distance adaptability while keeping each individual leg simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket design incorporates multiple legs of different lengths that can be interchanged on the same bracket body, making the bracket universally applicable to different distance requirements. The same bracket structure serves multiple functions by accepting different leg attachments, eliminating the need for completely different brackets for each distance scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If complex adjustable mechanisms are used in scaffolding brackets, then the distance adjustment capability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to moving parts getting dirty or stuck

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance adjustment capabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the bracket itself adjustable with moving parts, the invention inverts the approach by making the legs interchangeable attachments. The adjustment is achieved by swapping static legs rather than moving parts on the bracket, eliminating the problem of moving parts getting dirty or stuck while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The legs are designed as simple, replaceable components that can be easily swapped out. Rather than maintaining complex adjustable mechanisms that require upkeep, the solution uses simple legs that can be replaced when needed, reducing operational complexity and maintenance issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If scaffolding brackets with moving parts are used, then the distance adjustment capability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to deformation and jamming in rough construction environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance adjustment capabilityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces moving adjustable mechanisms with static, interchangeable legs. By inverting the adjustment approach from mechanical movement to component swapping, the system achieves adaptability without the reliability issues of moving parts deforming or jamming in rough construction environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the adjustable mechanism from the bracket structure itself and replaces it with simple, removable legs. This extraction eliminates the problematic moving parts while retaining the essential function of distance adjustment through leg interchangeability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple individual parts are used in scaffolding brackets, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of manufacture and handling deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple leg variations into a unified bracket design where different legs attach to the same bracket body. This combining approach provides adaptability through leg interchangeability while simplifying manufacture compared to producing entirely separate brackets for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket body is designed as a universal component that can accept different legs, reducing the total number of unique parts that need to be manufactured. This multi-functionality approach improves ease of manufacture while maintaining adaptability through leg selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2267242B1Swap bracket
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 ALTRAD PLETTAC ASSCO
  • EP2267242B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2267242B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2267242B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The framework (1) is provided with a covering, a supporting element (3), and another support element, where the former support element is laid on the console surface (6). The two support elements are formed each as a bracket with a short leg (4) and a long leg (5), where the two legs at a right angle to each other.