Scaffold Deck System With Bracket-Supported Partial Length Planks For Creating An Opening To Accommodate Obstacles

Abstract

A scaffold including a pair of scaffold frames has a scaffold platform supported by the frames, which is defined by a series of planks and includes an opening. The opening is formed by a pair of transverse support members that extend between the pair of planks at a location between the scaffold frames. Partial-length scaffold planks, having first and second ends and a length less than the space between the scaffold frames, are supported by the transverse support members and occupy the space between the planks other than at the opening. The transverse support member includes spaced-apart plank engagement sections that rest on upwardly facing surfaces of the planks, and a plank end support member that extends between the plank engagement sections. A scaffolding platform system and a method of forming a scaffolding platform are also disclosed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A scaffolding arrangement, comprising:
 a pair of spaced-apart scaffold frames; and   a scaffold platform supported by the scaffold frames, wherein the scaffold platform is defined by a plurality of side-by-side planks, wherein the scaffold platform defines at least one opening located between a pair of planks, and wherein the opening is formed by the pair of planks in combination with at least one partial-length scaffold plank having first and second ends and a length less than the space between the scaffold frames, wherein the partial-length plank includes a support member located toward the first end that extends between and is supported by the pair of planks at a location between the scaffold frames.   
     
     
         2 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is defined between the first end of the partial-length plank and one of the scaffold frames. 
     
     
         3 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the partial-length plank is one of a pair of partial-length planks and wherein each partial-length plank includes a support member, wherein the opening is formed by the first end of a first one of the partial-length planks in combination with a first end of a second one of the partial-length planks. 
     
     
         4 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a pair of spaced-apart plank engagement sections interconnected with the partial-length plank. 
     
     
         5 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of spaced-apart plank engagement sections are secured to spaced-apart areas of the partial length plank separately from each other. 
     
     
         6 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the support member further comprises a transverse member that extends between and interconnects the plank engagement sections. 
     
     
         7 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein each plank engagement section includes an upper wall configured to engage and rest on an upwardly facing surface of one of the pair of planks when the support member is positioned between the pair of planks. 
     
     
         8 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the transverse member defines an open area within which the end of the partial-length plank is received. 
     
     
         9 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the open area defines an axially open passage in the transverse member, and wherein the first end of the partial-length plank extends through the passage and outwardly from the transverse member. 
     
     
         10 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the transverse member includes an end wall that at least in part encloses the open area and wherein the first end of the partial-length plank is positioned adjacent the end wall. 
     
     
         11 . The scaffolding arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the transverse member is positioned below a lower surface defined by the first end of the partial-length plank. 
     
     
         12 . A scaffolding platform system adapted to be positioned between a pair of spaced-apart scaffold frames, comprising:
 a plurality of full-length planks configured to span the entire distance between the pair of scaffold frames;   a plurality of partial-length planks, each of which has a length less than the distance between the pair of scaffold frames, wherein each partial-length plank defines first and second ends, wherein at least the first end of each partial-length plank includes a support member; and   wherein when it is desired to form a scaffolding platform without an opening, the full-length planks are employed to fully occupy the area between the scaffold frames to form the scaffolding platform, and wherein when it is desired to form a scaffolding platform with an opening, at least one partial-length plank is positioned between a pair of spaced-apart planks that cooperate with the first end of the partial-length plank to form the opening, wherein the support member is engaged with and supported on the pair of spaced-apart planks and the area between the pair of planks and adjacent the first end of the partial-length plank is unoccupied, wherein the partial-length plank is engaged with at least one of the scaffold frames and occupies the space between the pair of spaced-apart planks other than at the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The scaffolding platform system of  claim 12 , wherein a pair of partial-length planks are engaged with the pair of spaced-apart planks such that an area between the pair of spaced-apart planks and between the first ends of the pair of partial-length planks is unoccupied, wherein the partial-length planks are engaged with the scaffold frames and the pair of spaced-apart planks to occupy the space between the pair of spaced-apart planks other than at the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The scaffolding platform system of  claim 12 , wherein the partial-length planks have lengths in predetermined increments. 
     
     
         15 . The scaffolding platform system of  claim 12 , wherein each transverse support member comprises a pair of spaced-apart plank engagement sections and a plank end support member that extends between and interconnects the plank engagement sections. 
     
     
         16 . The scaffolding platform system of  claim 15 , wherein each plank engagement section includes an upper wall configured to engage and rest on an upwardly facing surface of one of the planks when the transverse support member is positioned between a pair of planks. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a scaffolding platform between a pair of spaced-apart scaffold frames, comprising the acts of:
 supporting a plurality of full-length planks on the pair of scaffold frames, wherein each full-length plank spans the entire distance between the scaffold frames;   providing at least one partial-length plank having a length less than the distance between the pair of scaffold frames, wherein the partial-length plank defines first and second ends and includes a support member adjacent the first end; and   in a location where it is desired to form an opening in the scaffolding platform, engaging the support member with a pair of spaced-apart planks at a location spaced from the scaffold frames, wherein the area adjacent the first end of the partial-length plank is unoccupied, and supporting the second end of the partial-length plank on one of the scaffold frames, wherein the partial-length plank occupies the space between the pair of spaced-apart planks other than at the opening.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the act of providing at least one partial-length plank comprises providing a pair of partial-length planks, each of which has a length less than the distance between the pair of scaffold frames and defines first and second ends and includes a support member adjacent the first end, and wherein the act of forming an opening in the scaffold platform is carried out by engaging the support members of the pair of partial-length planks with the pair of spaced-apart planks such that an area adjacent between the first ends of the partial-length planks is unoccupied, wherein the pair of partial-length planks occupy the space between the pair of spaced-apart planks other than at the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pair of partial-length planks are selected from a plurality of partial-length planks of different lengths, each of which has a length less than the distance between the pair of scaffold frames. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the support member comprises a pair of spaced-apart plank engagement sections interconnected with the first end of the partial-length plank separately from each other. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the support member comprises a pair of spaced-apart plank engagement sections and a transverse member that extends between and interconnects the plank engagement sections.