Abstract:
A bridge assembly includes a plurality of platform members which may be secured to support beams via individual platform chassis which are configured to allow tool-less attachment bolt heads thereto. A plurality of specially configured clamps are attached to the free ends of the bolts and the clamps are used to secure the platform members to the platform chassis. The platform chassis are each secured to the outer support beams via L-brackets that are mounted between the chassis and support beams. The support beams include flanged channels wherein the heads of a plurality of bolts may be attached without the need for tools. The platform members may be laid in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation with respect to the outer support beams with two different clamp styles being used depending on the orientation selected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to bridge systems, and more particularly relates to a strong yet versatile bridge system especially adapted for vehicle and pedestrian use (e.g., cars, emergency vehicles, motorized golf carts, four wheelers, bicycles, foot traffic, etc.). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention addresses the above need by providing a bridge assembly having components specifically designed to minimize both the complexity and time it takes to complete the installation at the job site—all while providing an extremely strong, durable and long-lasting bridge assembly requiring little to no maintenance. 
         [0003]    In an embodiment of the invention, the bridge assembly includes a plurality of platform members which may be secured to the support beams via individual platform chassis which are configured to allow tool-less attachment bolt heads thereto. A plurality of specially configured clamps are attached to the free ends of the bolts and the clamps are used to secure the platform members to the platform chassis. The platform chassis are each secured to the outer support beams via L-brackets that are mounted between the chassis and support beams. The support beams include flanged channels wherein the heads of a plurality of bolts may be attached without the need for tools. 
         [0004]    The platform members may be laid in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation with respect to the outer support beams with two different clamp styles being used depending on the orientation selected. 
         [0005]    Curbs and optional railings are configured for easy installation to create a finished bridge assembly. 
     
    
     
         [0006]    DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
           [0007]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are upper and lower perspective views of a bridge assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, respectively; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A-C  are perspective assembled, perspective exploded, and end assembled views of a span of a bridge assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, respectively; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a platform chassis in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is an enlarged end view of the platform chassis of  FIG. 3A   
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective and end views of a bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, respectively; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an end view of an outer support beam in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an end view of a center support beam in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7A  is an end view of a platform member in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7B  is a reduced perspective view of the platform member of  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 8A-C  are side, perspective and fragmented perspective views of a clamp in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, respectively; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are perspective and end views of a gasket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, respectively; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9C  is a fragmented perspective view of the gasket in spaced relation to the platform chassis; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 10A-C  are perspective assembled, perspective exploded, and end assembled views of a single span of a bridge assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, respectively; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 11A-C  are side, perspective and fragmented perspective views of another embodiment of a clamp in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, respectively; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a fragmented perspective view showing the attachment of clamps between the platform members and chassis; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is an end view of an embodiment of curb cover plate in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is an end view of another embodiment of curb cover plate in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is an end view of a curb beam in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a fragmented perspective view showing attachment of the curb beam to the outer support beam and curb cover plate; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged front elevational view of another embodiment of end plate in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Referring now to the drawing, there is seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  an embodiment of the inventive bridge assembly designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . In this embodiment, the platform members are placed in a perpendicular orientation as will be described below with reference to the embodiment of  FIGS. 10A-C . The total length “L” of bridge assembly  10  may be varied according to the job site where bridge assembly  10  will be installed. For ease of illustration,  FIGS. 2A-C  and  10 A-C each show a shorter bridge span “S” which is defined by the length between two consecutive platform chassis  24  used to support and connect the individual platform members to the support beams as described more fully below. A single bridge assembly  10  may consist of any number of spans “S” which may be installed in serial, longitudinally extending fashion to achieve the bridge length needed to fully cross the land feature over which the bridge assembly  10  is to be installed. The exact number of spans “S” to be used in a given application will be decided by the people assigned to the job (e.g., the bridge company sales associate and/or site engineer, for example). It is also understood that while the support beams  16 ,  18  and  20  are shown in  FIGS. 2A-C  and  10 A-C as length of the span, the support beams in actuality may extend the full length of the bridge assembly  10 . 
         [0030]    One of the first steps in the bridge installation process requires mounting of each bearing plate  12  onto a respective support structure such as a pier  14  which are installed at the job site (not shown), for example. The pilings or piers  14  extend into the earth to a suitable depth in a known manner (e.g., using sono tubes, not shown) to provide the necessary structural support for bridge assembly  10 . 
         [0031]    The assembly of a single bridge span “S” will now be described. The opposite longitudinal sides of the bridge assembly span are formed with first and second outer support beams  16  and  18 , respectively. A center support beam  20  is placed parallel to and midway between the first and second outer support beams  16 ,  18 . It is noted that for a very narrow bridge (e.g., for bicycle and/or foot traffic only), a center support beam  20  might not be necessary. Conversely, for very wide bridge requirements, more than one center support beam  20  may be employed as needed. 
         [0032]    Bolts  22  extend through aligned holes “h” formed in the bearing plates and support beams to securely connect the bearing plates to the support beams. Bearing plates  12  (and their respective earth supports) are located at each end of all the support beams and may optionally be placed in other locations along the support beams as necessary or desired. 
         [0033]    Each bridge span “S” further includes one or more platform chassis  24  which are secured to and extend perpendicularly between the support beams. As seen best in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , platform chassis  24  may be formed substantially rectangular in cross section with four sides  26 A-D. Each side  26 A-D may further include a longitudinally extending channel  26 A′-D′ which may also be rectangular in cross section. Each channel may further include a pair of flanges  26 A″-D″ at their channel opening which form an anchor point for attaching other components to the platform chassis  24 . 
         [0034]    Referring again to  FIGS. 2A-C , each platform chassis  24  is secured between the outer and center support beams via L-brackets  28  each having first and second walls  28 A,  28 B extending at a substantially 90° angle to each other as seen best in  FIGS. 4A-D  via bolts  30  and respective nuts  32 . In this regard, it is seen that the support beams include flanged channels  34  and  34 ′ which may extend the full longitudinal lengths of the support beam. The heads of bolts  30  may be inserted into the channels  34 ,  34 ′ at the end of the support beam thereby capturing the bolt within the channels. The bolt is slidable within the channel such that it may be positioned at any position therealong as needed to properly align the bolt  30  with the location of a respective bracket  28 . The shaft of the bolt extends outwardly of the channel and may be passed through a hole “h” of the L-bracket wall  28 B whereby a nut  32  may be threaded to the free end of the bolt to secure the L-bracket  28  to the support beam. The heads of the bolts are captured within the flanged channel  24   a′  of the chassis by passing the bolt head into a channel opening  25   a  at either end of the chassis (see  FIG. 3 a   ) with the bolt shank extending exteriorly of the flanged channel. The chassis  24  and L-bracket are secured together by passing the bolt  40  through a respective hole in L-bracket wall  28 A and securing a nut  41  to the free end of the bolt  40 . This manner of bolt attachment to the chassis is also used for securing the deck clamps as seen in the enlarged views of  FIGS. 8A and 9C  which are described in more detail below. 
         [0035]    The first and second outer support beams  16 ,  18  are preferably identical in construction and include spaced parallel walls  44 ,  46  as seen best in  FIG. 5 . As discussed above, flanged channels  34  and  34 ′ are formed along beam wall  46  and are configured with inwardly directed flanges to allow the passage of a bolt head at a desired location along the channels  34 ,  34 ′. 
         [0036]    Each support beam  16 ,  18  may be even further strengthened via the use of an optional reinforcement plate  60 . Plate  60  may be removably mounted to a respective support beam by inserting and sliding the opposite plate edges  60   a  and  60   b  into channels  50  and  52  formed on the inwardly facing surfaces of the beam end plates  54  and  56  within beam center space  58 , respectively. Likewise, a reinforcement plate  60  may also be positioned in center support beam  20  by inserting and sliding the opposite plate edges  60 A and  60 B into channels  62  and  64  formed on the inwardly facing surfaces of the beam end plates  66  and  68  within beam center space  70 , respectively. 
         [0037]    As seen best in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , while the outer support beams  16 ,  18  only have flanged channels on one side thereof, center support beam  20  includes flanged channels  72 ,  74  on each of the opposite side walls  73  and  75  thereof, respectively. As such, first and second platform chassis  24  may interconnect the first and second outer support beams  16 ,  18  with the center support beam  20 , respectively. Once the support beams  16 ,  18 ,  20  and the first and second platform chassis  24  are interconnected, the decking platform  80  is installed thereon as described below. 
         [0038]    The decking platform  80  comprises a plurality of individual platform members  82  arranged in parallel fashion and which are each uniquely configured for high strength and durability. Each platform member  82  is preferably constructed as a single extruded aluminum part with no welds. As seen best in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , each platform member  82  includes a single upper wall  82 A and first, second and third spaced lower walls  82 B,  82 C and  82 D, respectively, all of which lie in a common plane which extends in spaced, parallel relationship to the plane of upper wall  82 A. Interconnecting upper and lower walls  82 A,  82 B are first and second outer walls  82 E,  82 F, respectively, which extend substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the upper and lower walls. A pair of first and second walls  82 G and  82 H extend at an angle between upper wall  82 A and center lower wall  82 C to form a truncated triangular center opening  84  therebetween which extends the full length of platform member  82 . In the preferred embodiment, the base  84 A of the truncated triangular center opening is defined by upper wall  82 A with the smallest side  84 B defined by a center section of middle lower wall  82 C. The truncated triangular opening provides additional strength and durability to the platform member. Although a truncated triangular opening is shown, other shapes are possible. 
         [0039]    The first and third lower walls  82 B and  82 D include inwardly facing surfaces  82 B′ and  82 D′ which provide a ledge upon which a securing clamp  66  may engage to interconnect each platform member  82  to the platform chassis  24 . As seen best in  FIGS. 8A-C , clamp  66  includes a finger portion  66 A extending from a main portion  66 B with main body portion  66 B having a hole  66 B′. Clamp  66  is attached to a platform chassis  24  by inserting the head portion  65 A of a bolt  65  within channel  65 A at the chassis end wherethrough the shaft  65 A of bolt  65  may pass with bolt head  65 C located (see  FIG. 8C ). A nut  69  is then threaded to the exposed end of the bolt thereby securing the clamp to the chassis. Since the bolt may be slid along the channel to any desired location as explained above, it is a simple manner to align the bolt and then the clamp to a position where the finger portion engages the platform member lower plate. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A-C , an elongated gasket  86  is provided which is preferably formed of a resilient material such as rubber which may be molded or extruded as a single piece. The cross section is configured in a geometry that allows the gasket to be removably slid into chassis channel  26 B′ which is the channel facing the decking platform  80 . In the preferred embodiment shown, the gasket is configured with a base portion  86 A extending into a narrowed neck area  86 B which extends into a head portion  86 C. The gasket  86  is directed into the channel  26 C′ with the head portion  86 C becoming located within channel  26 C′ and the narrowed neck area  86 B located between channel flanges  26 B″. The installed gasket  68  provides a cushion and sound dampening effect between the platform chassis  24  and platform members  82  for a more quiet and smooth ride over the bridge. 
         [0041]    The platform members  82  may be laid in a direction either parallel to the support beams as shown in  FIGS. 2A-C , or in a direction perpendicular thereto as shown in  FIGS. 10A-C . When laid in the perpendicular orientation, a different style of clamp  90  is used as seen best in  FIGS. 11A-C . Clamp  90  is seen to include a hooked finger portion  90 A extending from a main body portion  90 B. A hole  90 C extends through main body portion  90 B from the clamp back wall  90 D to the clamp front wall  90 E. Bolt head  92 A is located in channel  25 A′ with bolt shaft  92 B extending outwardly therefrom. As explained above, the bolts are connected to the chassis by passing the bolt head  92 A into the channel at either end of the chassis with the bolt shaft  92 B extending exteriorly of the channel. The bolt is then slidable to any desired location with the respective channel. 
         [0042]    Clamps  90  are mounted to a respective platform chassis by extending the bolt shaft  92 B through clamp hole  90 C as shown in  FIGS. 11C . A washer and nut  94  are then threaded to the bolt shaft  92 B as seen in  FIG. 12 . The clamp finger portion  90 A is engaged with the inwardly facing surface  82 D′ of the platform member  82  and the nut  94  is tightened thereby firmly clamping platform member  82  to chassis  24 . 
         [0043]    As seen best in  FIG. 12 , first and second platform members  82 ′ and  82 ″ are positioned in a coplanar manner with the third lower wall  82 D of the first member  82 ′ located adjacent the first lower wall  82   b  of the second platform member  82 ″. It is preferred to create a space  83  between the adjacent side walls  82 F and  82 E of the adjacent platform members to allow water to drain from the platform  80 . A spacer  85  may be positioned between the adjacent side walls  82 F and  82 E and a bolt  87  is passed through aligned holes formed in the side walls  82 F and  82 E and spacer  85  and secured with a washer and nut  89 . Although not shown in  FIG. 12 , another spacer and bolt/nut are also attached in the same manner at the ends of the adjacent platform members  82 ′,  82 ″ located opposite to the ends seen in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0044]    The adjacent platform member lower walls  82 D and  82 B are laid upon chassis  24  with the space  83  therebetween extending in colinear alignment with chassis channel  26 B′. Although not shown in  FIG. 12 , it is understood that additional clamps  90  are to be positioned on the opposite side of chassis  24  between channel  26 C′ and wall surface  82 B′ of second platform member  82 ″. As many clamps  90  as desired are mounted to chassis  24  to ensure a secure attachment of each platform member  82  to each platform chassis  24 . 
         [0045]    Curbs and optional railings are mounted to the outer support beams  16  and  18 . As seen best in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a curb beam  96  is provided for mounting to a respective outer support beam  16 ,  18 . Curb beam  96  is configured as a unitary piece having a hollow main body portion  98  with top, bottom and opposite side walls  98 A-D, respectively and internal spaced, parallel walls  98 E and  98 F defining first, second and third parallel voids V 1 -V 3  which extend the full length of curb beam  96 . Curb beam  96  further includes a wall segment  100 A extending from the center of main body portion bottom wall  98 B. Another wall segment  100 B extends at a right angle to wall segment  100 A which together form an L-shaped extension  100 . 
         [0046]    To mount curb beam  96  to outer support beam  16 , the curb beam  96  is fit to the support beam  16  with wall segment  100 A abutting platform member side wall  82 F, wall segment  100 B extending under and abutting support beam flange  16 A and main body portion bottom wall  98 B lying on top of platform segment upper wall  82 A. Although only support beam  16  is shown in  FIG. 16  for purposes of description, it is understood the same process is followed on support beam  18 . The curb beam is then secured to the support beam with a bolt  102  which is passed through aligned holes  104 A-C in curb beam  96 , holes  83 A, B in platform member  82  (see  FIG. 7B ), and hole  106  in support beam flange  16 A. A washer and nut  106  are secured to the bolt end beneath wall segment  100 B ( FIG. 16 ). 
         [0047]    If no railings are to be installed, the curbs are finished with elongated cover plates which may be of any desired ornamental shape and size such as the short rectangular and tall truncated gable versions  100  and  102  shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , respectively. The cover plates  100  and  102  include respective opposite side walls  100 A,  100 B and  102 A,  102 B which may be inserted and fit between opposite side walls  96 A and  96 B which extend upwardly from main body portion  98 . Screw anchor points  100 C-F are provided on cover plate  100  and screw anchor points  96 C, D are provided on side walls  96 A,  96 B, respectively. An end plate  106  ( FIG. 2C ) is provided and includes holes which align with the screw anchor points  100 C and  100 D wherethrough screws S 1  and S 2  may be passed to secure the cover plate to the end plate. The end plate further includes holes which align with the screw anchor points  96 C and  96 D on curb beam  96  and wherethrough screws S 2  and S 5  may be passed to secure the end plate  106  to the curb beam  96 . Lastly, curb beam  16  is seen to include screw anchor points  98 G and  98 H which align with holes on end plate  106  and wherethrough screws S 3  and S 4  may be passed to further secure end plate  106  to curb beam  96 . When using taller curb cover plate  102 , there are four screw anchor points  102 C-F on cover plate  102  which align with four holes  108 A-D on cover plate  108  ( FIG. 17 ) and wherethrough screws may be passed to anchor cover plate  102  to end plate  108 . The remaining four holes  108 E-H on end plate  108  align with the screw anchor points  96 C, D and  98 G, H on curb beam  96 , respectively, and wherethrough screws may be passed to anchor end plate  108  to curb beam  96 . 
         [0048]    When railings  110  are to be installed, the curb cover plates  100 ,  102  are not used and the railings are bolted to the curb beam  96 . Cover plates, which may be segments of cover plates  100 ,  102 , are secured between the railings and a top hand rail  112  may be secured to the railings to create a finished look. 
         [0049]    Most parts described herein are preferably made of extruded aluminum although other materials and manufacturing processes therefor may be utilized as desired. 
         [0050]    While this bridge assembly and method have been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described.