Patent Publication Number: US-2019169931-A1

Title: Platforms for temporary structures and methods of assembling the same

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to co-pending UK Application GB1720135.1, filed Dec. 4, 2017 and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present invention relates generally to a platform and a method of assembling a platform and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in providing temporary structures. 
     SUMMARY 
     In certain situations, it is desirable to construct structures for a variety of purposes in a relatively short time, where the materials used are modular and relatively lightweight to the extent that lifting equipment may not be required. Such purposes may include gantries, platforms, bridges, roadways, flood barriers, and roofs. 
     The present invention describes equipment that may be used to satisfy such a desire. 
     In a first aspect, the invention provides a platform comprising two or more ladders, of the type having stiles and rungs, releasably attachable together in a side-by-side arrangement such that the rungs of each ladder are in the same plane, at least two of the rungs on each ladder being hollow, the platform further comprising a first elongate member arranged to pass through co-axially positioned hollow rungs of each ladder, the first elongate member comprising a widened portion at one end thereof, and a releasable locking member at the other end thereof, to releasably clamp the ladders together, the platform further comprising at least one deck plate arrangeable on the rungs of one of the two or more ladders to form a deck. 
     Each ladder may have a length in the range of 1 to 6 metres. In this respect, the term “ladder” may refer to an ordinary, commonly available ladder having two stiles and a number of rungs. However, the ladders may be manufactured to include additional features not typically found on commonly available ladders. 
     The ladders may comprise aluminium or similar lightweight materials including advanced composite materials. 
     Each ladder may have stiles with substantially rectangular cross-sections, although “C” section cross-sections are also contemplated. Each stile may therefore have an upper surface, a lower surface being the one parallel to the upper surface and spaced apart by the sides of the stiles, and two side surfaces through which rungs pass. The inside surfaces are the surfaces facing each other across the length of the rungs. The outside surfaces are the surfaces facing away from the rungs. 
     The stiles of the two ladder sections may have the same spacing, measured from inside side surface to inside surface. 
     The ladders may have a width in the range of 20 cm to 100 cm. 
     The deck plate may rest on top of the rungs and within the stiles. The deck plate allows for traffic across the ladders as well as having other useful effects. The deck may be arranged to have a thickness equal to the distance of the side of the rung from the upper surface of the stiles such that the deck forms a substantially uniform a planar surface with the upper surfaces of the stiles. The deck plate may comprise timber, plastics, aluminium, or composite materials and be solid or hollow. 
     The deck plate may include openings within them, and a projection for preventing it from sliding across the rungs. For instance, bars, or projecting bolts may be arranged on the ladder side of the deck plate to engage with the rungs. The deck plates may include stiffeners which bear on at least some of the rungs and contact the side of the rungs to secure them in place. 
     The releasable locking member may be a threaded nut and at least a portion of the elongate member may have a corresponding thread for adjustable attachment of the nut thereto. In this way, the elongate member may be passed through the co-axial rungs such that the widened portion abuts the end of one rung. The nut may then be wound onto the threaded end which projects from the distal end of the adjacent rung. The nut may be rotated to provide the desired amount of clamping action. In this respect, the nut is arranged to be larger than the bore of the hollow rung, or a washer may be provided to create the same clamping effect. 
     Other ways of releasably clamping the adjacent ladders together are contemplated, such as the releasable locking member being a pin arranged to extend at least partially into a hole arranged in the first elongate member. For instance, a lynch pin may pass completely through the first elongate member from one side to the other. Alternatively, a sprung pin biased to project out of the first elongate member may be provided. 
     The widened portion may be a flared portion of the first elongate member. Alternatively, it may a separate member such as a nut or washer. It may be releasably attached to the first elongate member. It may be arranged to be reversibly transformable into a narrower portion to allow its passage through the hollow rung. For instance, a sprung pin biased to project out of the first elongate member may be provided. 
     The elongate member may be flexible or rigid. For instance, the member may a rope with a knot at one end. 
     The platform may further comprise a stabilising member arranged for placement between two adjacent ladders to maintain the rungs of both ladders in the same plane without the elongate member. 
     The stabilising member may have a cross-sectional (Roman letter) “I” shape in the form of two parallel flanges spaced apart from one another by an intermediate perpendicularly arranged web, the web may be arranged to be positioned parallel to, and between, the outside surfaces of the adjacent stiles, one flange may be arranged to lie adjacent and parallel to the upper surfaces of the two adjacent stiles of the two adjacent ladders, and the other flange may be arranged to lie adjacent and parallel to the lower surfaces of the two adjacent stiles. 
     The stabilising member may include a hole to accommodate the first elongate member. One or more of these stabilising members may be employed to maintain the two adjacent ladders in position relative to one another to aid the insertion of one or more first elongate members into co-axial hollow rungs. 
     The rungs may project through an outer surface of the stile. The projection may be in the range of 1 to 30 mm. 
     The hole in the stabilising member may be arranged to fit around the rung projection. 
     The stabilising member may include a bracket for attaching a stiffening member across the width of one or more of the two or more ladders. The stiffening member may be a relatively rigid rod and may be arranged underneath the ladders, in use. 
     The platform may further comprise a removably attachable side bracket including a hole, the hole may be arranged to fit around the projecting rung, the side bracket may be attachable to the platform by use of the first elongate member and releasable locking member, the side bracket may be arranged to enable other members to be releasably attached to the platform. 
     For instance, one of the other members may be the stiffening member referred to above. 
     The platform may further comprise at least one baluster, the baluster may be attachable to the platform by use of the first elongate member and releasable locking member. 
     The side bracket may include a projection and the at least one baluster may include a recess for fitting around the projection. The at least one baluster may include a hole for receiving the stiffening member therethrough. 
     The platform may further comprise a handrail releasably attachable to the at least one baluster. 
     At least one hollow rung may include a connector for connecting other members to the platform. The connector may comprise a threaded portion on the internal surface of the rung adjacent the stile, the threaded portion adapted to receive a correspondingly externally threaded member for releasably attaching the member to the platform. 
     Other ways of connecting other members to the platform are contemplated, such as, the connector comprising a hollow sleeve arranged to be inserted into, and removably fixed to, the hollow rung, the sleeve comprising a threaded portion on its internal surface, the threaded portion adapted to receive a correspondingly externally threaded member for releasably attaching the member to the platform. 
     Another possibility is that the connector comprises a second elongate member arranged to be inserted into, and removably fixed to, the hollow rung, the second elongate member including at least one hole arranged to receive at least a portion of a pin for releasably attaching the member to the platform. 
     In this respect, the phrase “removably fixed to the hollow rung” includes the situation where the second elongate member is rotatable within the hollow rung but is prevented from moving parallel to the longitudinal length of the hollow bore of the rung. 
     The at least one stile may include a hole through its side arranged to receive a pin for releasably attaching the at least one deck plate to the platform. In this regard, the pin may pass through the stile from the outside surface to the inside surface and extend into a co-axially arranged hole in the side of the deck plate. 
     The platform may further comprise discrete spacer elements for maintaining a gap between at least one side of the at least one deck plate and at least one of the corresponding internal surfaces of the stiles of one ladder. 
     The at least one deck plate may comprise at least one flexible seal for substantially sealing the gap between at least one side of the at least one deck plate and the at least one corresponding internal surface of the stile. In this way, the gaps may become substantially water-proof. 
     The hole may be co-axially aligned with at least one spacer element. 
     The platform may further comprise an infill member for filling the gap between the outer side surfaces of the immediately adjacent stiles of two adjacent ladders. This may be desirable because the gap may be in the range of 5 to 60 mm depending on various factors such as the length of projection of the rungs, the thickness of any stabilising member and manufacturing tolerances. The infill member may have a (Roman letter) “T” shape. In this way, the horizontal part may rest on the upper surfaces of the adjacent stiles and the vertical part may rest between the outside surfaces of the adjacent stiles. Alternative shapes are contemplated such as a square shape where the upper part of the square sits flush with the upper surfaces of the adjacent stiles, and the lower surface is supported on the ladder rung projections. 
     The platform may further comprise a platform connector for connecting it to another platform. In this way a larger platform may be created. The platform connector may fit into the ends of stiles. 
     The platform connector may be arranged to connect the two platforms such that all the rungs lie in the same plane. However, it is contemplated that the platform connector may be arranged to connect the two platforms such that all the rungs of one platform lie in one plane and all the rungs in the other platform lie in another plane. In this way, an apex shape roof structure may be created. 
     The platform connector may include an angle adjuster to variably adjust the angle between the plane in which the rungs lie in one platform and the plane in which the rungs lie in the other platform. For instance, a hinged connector. 
     The platform may further comprise at least one releasably attachable mast and cord for stiffening the platform, the mast attachable such that its longitudinal axis lies non-parallel to the plane in which the rungs lie, the cord arranged to link the mast to the platform such that its longitudinal axis also lies non-parallel to the plane in which the rungs lie. More than one cord and/or mast may be provided. 
     In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of assembling a platform according to any preceding claim, comprising the steps of providing at least two, of the type having stiles and rungs, wherein at least two of the rungs on each ladder are hollow, placing these at least two hollow rungs co-axially and providing and inserting a first elongate member through them, the first elongate member comprising a widened portion at one end thereof, the method also comprising the step of providing a releasable locking member at the other end thereof, and locking the locking member to the first elongate member to clamp the ladders together. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a platform; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a stabilising member and portions of two adjacent ladders; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another platform; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a platform and side bracket; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a platform acting as a bridge; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a platform and a different side bracket; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a platform and an alternative side bracket; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a platform with a deck plate; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a platform and a winder; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a fixed angle platform connection member; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a variable angle platform connector; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a roof structure under construction. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention. 
     Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. 
     Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein. 
     It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an aspect” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in an aspect” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects. 
     Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention. 
     Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination. 
     In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description. 
     In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value. 
     The use of the term “at least one” may mean only one in certain circumstances. The use of the term “any” may mean “all” and/or “each” in certain circumstances. 
     The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the platform  10  comprises two ladders  20 ,  30  located adjacent one another side-by-side. The ladder  20  on the left has a left stile  25  and a right stile  26 . The ladder on the right has a left stile  33  and a right stile  32 . The ladders have rungs  40  which project outwardly from the stiles. The rungs at the nearest end of the platform  10  are hollow such that an elongate member  50  has been inserted therethrough. In this case the elongate member is a threaded bar and a butterfly nut  60  is arranged at each end. These may be wound onto the bar and tightened thus clamping the ladders together. The hollow rungs may an internal diameter of 20 mm and the elongate member  50  may have an external diameter of 16 mm. 
     A stabilising member  70  is arranged between the two ladders. It is in the form of an I beam having an upper surface which lies over the upper surface  80  of the stiles  26 ,  33 , and a lower surface  90  which lies under the lower surfaces of the same stiles. The upper  80  and lower  90  surfaces are connected together by a web  100  which extends between them and which sits between the outer surfaces of the two stiles. A hole, not shown, in the web allows the elongate member  50  to pass therethrough. 
     Side brackets  120  are attached to the elongate member at each end thereof. Another bracket  130  is arranged underneath the stabilising member  70 . 
     A stiffening member  140 , in the form of a rod, is arranged underneath the platform and held in place by the side brackets  120  and stabilising bracket  130 . 
     Balusters  150  are attached to the platform by use of a hole in their lower ends, through which the projecting rung  40  may pass, and being clamped between the butterfly nut  60  and the outer surface of the stiles. 
     Deck plates  110  have been placed on top of the rungs  40 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a close-up view of a stabilising member  70  is shown with its upper  80  and lower  90  surfaces, connecting web  100 , and elongate member  50  passing therethrough. 
     Also shown is an infill member  75  which has a rectangular shape and which is arranged between the stiles such that its upper surface is flush with the upper surfaces of the stiles  26 ,  33 . It rests on the projecting rungs  40 . In this case, the infill member  75  is integral with the stabilising member  70 , but it is contemplated that may be used separately from the stabilising member. 
     It is possible to connect more than two ladders side-by-side using the components described herein such that a larger platform  300  is created as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this case, the platform has stabilising members  70  which extend all along the lengths of the stiles. 
     In  FIG. 4 , one end of a rung  40  and one stile  25  are shown. A side bracket  160  is shown having a vertical plate  162  and a horizontal plate  165  connected to the lower end of the vertical plate  162 , together forming an inverted Roman letter “T”. The vertical plate  162  includes a hole such that the plate does not foul the end  45  of the rung which projects slightly through, as shown. This hole acts to locate the bracket  160 . The plate  162  includes a tapered tube portion  40 A projecting away from the side of the plate opposite to the side which contacts the side of the stile  25 . The bracket  160  also includes a baluster receiver  166  in the form of a tubular portion attached, or integral, with the upper surface of the horizontal plate  165 . This allows a baluster  150 , with a hollow end portion, to be placed over the tubular portion and thus hold it in place. The tapered tube portion  40 A fits into a recess  43  provided in the side of the baluster. Additional releasable fixers, such as grub screws, may be used to retain the baluster to the tubular portion  166 . Alternatively, a nut could be screwed onto an elongate member  50 , such as a threaded bar, placed through the hollow rungs to clamp the baluster  150  between the outer side surface of the stile and the nut. 
       FIG. 5  shows a possible scenario whereby the platform is in the form of a bridge  200  including decks  110 , balusters  150  and a hand rail  152 . 
     Masts  173  are attached underneath the platform extending vertically away from its underside. Cables  174  are attached to the deck and pass over/attach to the masts  173  to provide stiffening to the bridge. 
     Another possible way of clamping two ladders together is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this example, the elongate member  50 A comprises a hollow tube. It has a slightly smaller diameter than the bore of the rung  40  and as such a collar  52  is arranged at the end of the rung to fill the gap between the elongate member and the rung to retain it in place radially. A pin  55  passes through a hole  56  in the elongate member  50 A adjacent the end of the rung  40  to retain the elongate member in place axially. 
     A side bracket  120  is shown attached to the platform. This side bracket  120  has a vertical plate  122  and a horizontal plate  125  connected to the lower end of the vertical plate  122 , together forming a Roman letter “L” shape. The vertical plate  122  includes a hole such that it may accommodate the collar  52  which projects beyond the side of the stile so that it acts to locate and support the bracket  120 . The bracket  120  also includes a short tubular portion  180  attached to, or integral, with the lower surface of the horizontal plate  125 . This allows a stiffening member  140  to be attached to the underside of the platform as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an alternative way of securing an alternative baluster  150 A to the platform using an alternative bracket  120 A. This side bracket  120 A has a vertical plate  122  and a horizontal plate  125  connected to the lower end of the vertical plate  122 , together forming a Roman letter “L” shape in the same manner as the bracket  120  described in relation to  FIG. 6 . The vertical plate  122  includes a hole such that the plate does not foul the end of the rung which projects slightly through, as shown. This hole acts to locate the bracket  120 A. The plate  122  includes a tapered tube portion  40 B projecting away from the side of the plate opposite to the side which contacts the side of the stile  25 . The tapered tube portion  40 B fits into a recess  151 A provided in the side of the baluster  150 A. the baluster also includes a hole  152 A arranged to fit over the stiffening member  140  arranged in the short tubular portion  180  attached to the bottom of the bracket  120 A. The baluster  150 A may be held in place by fixers attached over the end of an elongate member (not shown) which extends through the hollow rung and extends outwardly of the baluster on the side away from the stile  25 . For instance, a butterfly nut may be used. The nut may be screwed onto the elongate member which may be a threaded tie rod. 
     A deck plate  110  is depicted in  FIG. 8  in place on top of the rungs  40 . It has a box section and a planar upper and lower surface. The sides have holes  114  through which pins  112  may pass after having passed through co-axial holes  115  provided through the stile  25 . A ring  113  provides easy grip of the pin  112 . 
     The platform also includes spacing elements  111  arranged between the deck plate  110  and the inside surface of the stile  25 . These act to maintain the sides of the deck plates away from the inside surfaces of the stiles. The pins  111  may pass through these spacing elements  111 . Seal members (not shown) are also arranged between the deck plate  110  and the inside surface of the stile  25 . These provide a degree of water-proofing to the platform such that it could be used in a vertical position as a barrier to fluids. The seal members may be arranged on the deck plates, on the ladders, or may be separate. The pins  112  may pass through the seal members, although it is preferable that the pins and seal members do not meet to ensure a water-tight connection. 
     The side brackets  120  allow for other components to be attached to the platform. In  FIG. 9  a winder is shown rotatably attached to the underside of one of the ladders forming the platform. This comprises of a tubular portion  190  which passes through the tubular portions  180  of the side brackets  120 . A collar  192  is fixed to one end of the tubular portion  190  be use of a grub screw  195  or pin. A winding handle  194  is attached to the other end. The winder may be used to wind in a cable for movement of goods across the platform. A stub  196  is provided at the axial end of the tubular portion  190  such that an electric motor may be used to rotate the winder. The winder may extend across more than one ladder width. 
     It is possible to connect two platforms together by use of a connection member. This connection member may fit into the hollow ends of co-axial stiles to maintain the stiles of both platforms in the same plane. Alternatively, the connection member  200  may include portions attachable to each platform such that the stiles of each platform are in different planes, such that they are at an angle to one another different from 180 degrees. An example is shown in  FIG. 10 . The connection member  200  includes a first portion  210  which fits snugly into the end of a stile  25  of one ladder  20  of one platform and a second portion  220  which fits snugly into the end of a stile  25  of one ladder  20  of the other platform. A member  234  depends downwardly, in use, from the connection member  200 . This may be used to connect further connecting members to stiffen the roof. This member  234  may be omitted in one example. 
     It is also possible to have a variable angle connection member  200 A as shown in  FIG. 11 . This includes a pivoted joint  237 . 
     By using such platform connection members  200 A, an apex roof structure  400  is constructible as shown in  FIG. 12 . The ladders  20 ,  30  shown in this figure are not shown connected adjacent one another to aid the drawings understanding. Masts  173  and cables  174  are provided underneath the platforms to provide stiffness therein. The roof is shown resting on walls  410 . Once deck plates  110  are installed, together with the seals, the area underneath will be protected from the weather. It is possible that earth or other material may be placed on top of the roof to provide camouflage, further protection from the weather, or indeed protection from armaments.