Intermediate Scaffold Joint with Sliding Lock and Cutouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intermediate scaffold joints are labor-intensive to assemble and manufacture, often requiring welding of partial cups and complex latch mechanisms, which complicates their use and manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
An improved intermediate scaffold joint design featuring a frame with attachable mounting members, a sliding lock member for secure attachment to horizontal scaffold members, and cutout sections instead of partial cups, simplifying assembly and manufacturing by eliminating the need for welding and complex mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If partial cups are welded to the intermediate scaffold joint, then the joint can accommodate horizontal scaffold end connectors, but the assembly process becomes labor-intensive and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the partial cups from the intermediate scaffold joint design entirely. Instead of welding cups to the joint body, the design uses the joint's inherent structure with open sides that directly receive and accommodate the horizontal scaffold end connectors. This extraction of the cups eliminates the welding step and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the ability to accommodate connectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate scaffold joint is designed with segmented open sides rather than a continuous cup structure. This segmentation allows the joint to accommodate horizontal connectors without requiring additional welded components, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining adaptability.
2Reliability
If a pivoting latch mechanism is used to lock the intermediate scaffold joint, then the joint can be securely attached, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the pivoting latch mechanism entirely from the design. Security is achieved through the structural configuration of the joint itself, which provides inherent stability and secure attachment through its geometric design and the interaction with standard scaffold components, rather than through an additional complex locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate scaffold joint is designed to be self-securing through its structural configuration. The joint's geometry and the way it interfaces with horizontal scaffold members provide inherent stability and secure attachment without requiring external complex locking mechanisms, allowing the structure to secure itself through proper assembly.
3Reliability
If multiple mounting members and complex mechanisms are used, then the joint provides secure attachment, but the assembly time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate scaffold joint is designed with universal compatibility with standard scaffold components. The open-sided frame structure can accommodate various horizontal scaffold end connectors without requiring specialized mounting members or complex adjustment mechanisms, enabling quick assembly through straightforward connection of standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The design removes unnecessary mounting members and complex mechanisms from the intermediate scaffold joint. Security and stability are achieved through the essential structural configuration alone, eliminating extraneous components that would increase assembly time and labor requirements while maintaining reliable attachment to the scaffold structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved intermediate scaffold joint comprising a frame, a first mounting member, a second mounting member, and a vertical stub. The frame has an interior side, an exterior side, and a top side. A lock member is slidable in the interior of the frame. The frame has a rear plate portion that has two openings to accommodate the engagement portions of a horizontal scaffold join, but lacks ½ annular cups.