Patent ID: 7228938

Claim:
An assembly being removably engageable with a work area for supporting a walking surface along which a worker can travel, said assembly comprising: at least one support unit comprising a first elongated support arm being positionable against an outer edge portion of the work area wherein said first support arm extends along a substantially vertical axis, a second elongated support arm cantilevered and secured to said first support arm wherein said second support arm extends substantially orthogonal thereto, said second support arm having opposed front and rear end portions respectively spaced from said first support arm such that said front end portion abuts and spans across at least two support joists extending beneath the work area, a joist-supporting arm removably engageable with said front end portion and extending substantially orthogonal thereto such that said first support arm and said second support arm and said joist-supporting arm are aligned along three distinct and non-coplanar axes respectively, and an upper support arm cantilevered and secured to said first support arm, said upper support arm extending substantially parallel to said second support arm for engaging a top surface of the work area, said upper support arm including a support member having opposed end portions secured thereto and to said first support member for maintaining said upper support arm at a substantially stable position during working conditions; wherein an elongated board is positionable between adjacently disposed ones of said rear end portions so that the board can be maintained at a substantially stable position during working conditions, said front end portion for exerting an upward force against the work area joists while said upper support arm exerts a downward force against a top surface of the work area such that the upward and downward forces become balanced when an operator stands on the board.