Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS INCLUDES OVERHEAD HOARDING ASSEMBLY FOR
SCAFFOLDING ASSEMBLY
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This document relates to the technical field of (and is not limited to)
an apparatus that
includes (and is not limited to) an overhead hoarding assembly that is
installable in a
scaffolding assembly configured to support the weight of a work crew and
materials during
construction and maintenance of a man-made structure.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A scaffolding system (also called scaffold, work platform or staging)
is a temporary
structure configured to support a work crew and materials to aid in the
construction,
maintenance, and repair of buildings, bridges and other types of man-made
structures.
Scaffolding is also configured for forming formwork and shoring, grandstand
seating,
concert stages, access or viewing towers, exhibition stands, ski ramps, half
pipes and art
projects, etc. There are several types of scaffolding systems, such as: (A)
tube and coupler
(fitting components) scaffolds, (B) prefabricated modular system scaffold, (C)
H-
frame/facade modular system scaffolds, and (D) timber scaffolds. Each type of
scaffolding
system is made from components, which may include: (A) a base jack or plate
component,
which is a load-bearing base for the scaffold; (B) the standard component,
which is the
upright component with connector joins; (C) the ledger (also called a
horizontal brace);
(D) the transom, which is a horizontal cross-section load-bearing component
configured to
hold a batten, a board or a decking unit; (E) a brace diagonal and/or a cross-
section bracing
component; (F) a batten (board) decking component configured to make a working
platform; (G) a coupler, which is a fitting configured to join components
together; (H) a
scaffold tie configured to tie in the scaffold to structures; and/or (I)
brackets configured to
extend the width of working platforms, etc. Specialized components are
configured to aid
in their use as a temporary structure may include heavy duty load-bearing
transoms,
ladders or stairway units for the ingress and egress of the scaffold, beams,
ladders of the
type configured to span obstacles and rubbish chutes (used to convey and
remove
unwanted materials from the scaffold or construction project), etc.
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[00031 A construction hoarding system may be installable to the scaffolding
system, and is
configured to secure a construction site located adjacent to the scaffolding
system. The
construction hoarding system is configured to provide safety to pedestrians or
the public.
SUMMARY
[0004] It will be appreciated that there exists a need to mitigate (at least
in part) at least one
problem associated with the existing (known) construction hoarding systems
and/or
scaffolding systems (also called the existing technology). After much study of
the known
systems and methods with experimentation, an understanding of the problem and
its
solution has been identified and is articulated as follows:
[0005] The existing pedestrian canopy assembly (installed to the existing
construction
hoarding system and/or the existing scaffolding system), in use, receives an
unwanted
element (such as, a falling object, weather elements (rain, snow, hail, etc.),
debris, etc.),
and the unwanted element remains (for the most part) on the pedestrian canopy
assembly.
This situation may not provide a safe environment for pedestrians that use the
construction
hoarding system because the unwanted elements may interfere with the safe
passage of the
pedestrians making their way along the existing construction hoarding system.
[0006] More specifically, it would be a very good idea to spatially position
the pedestrian
canopy assembly that is installed to a construction hoarding system and/or a
scaffolding
system in such a way that the pedestrian canopy assembly, in use, receives and
then
deflects, at least in part, the unwanted element toward a side of the
scaffolding assembly.
Preferably, the side that receives the unwanted element is the construction
site side and not
the roadside of the scaffolding assembly. This solution would provide a
relatively safer
environment for pedestrians that use the construction hoarding system because
the
unwanted elements are now less likely to interfere with the safe passage of
the pedestrians
making their way along the construction hoarding system.
[0007] To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the
existing
technology, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an
apparatus. The
apparatus includes and is not limited to an overhead hoarding assembly
configured to be
installed to a scaffolding assembly configured to support the weight of a work
crew and
materials during construction and maintenance of a man-made structure. The
scaffolding
assembly includes elongated scaffolding poles vertically extended and spaced
apart (from
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each other) with connection points mounted at spaced-apart intervals along a
length of at
least some of the elongated scaffolding poles. The overhead hoarding assembly
includes
pedestrian canopy support assemblies that are transversally installed, in a
spaced-apart
relationship, to the connection points of the elongated scaffolding poles of
the scaffolding
assembly. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies are transversally aligned
along a non-
perpendicular direction extending through the scaffolding assembly (whereby, a
pedestrian
canopy assembly, in use, receives and then deflects, at least in part, an
unwanted element
toward a side of the scaffolding assembly once the pedestrian canopy support
assemblies,
in use, receive and support the pedestrian canopy assembly).
[0008] To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the
existing
technology, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an
apparatus. The
apparatus includes and is not limited to a scaffolding assembly configured to
support the
weight of a work crew and materials during construction and maintenance of a
man-made
structure. The scaffolding assembly includes (and is not limited to) elongated
scaffolding
poles vertically extended and spaced apart with connection points mounted at
spaced-apart
intervals along a length of at least some of the elongated scaffolding poles.
The apparatus
further includes an overhead hoarding assembly installed to the scaffolding
assembly. The
overhead hoarding assembly includes pedestrian canopy support assemblies that
are
transversally installed, in a spaced-apart relationship, to the connection
points of the
elongated scaffolding poles of the scaffolding assembly. The pedestrian canopy
support
assemblies are transversally aligned along a non-perpendicular direction
extending through
the scaffolding assembly, once installed. This is done in such a way that,
whereby, a
pedestrian canopy assembly, in use, receives and then deflects, at least in
part, an
unwanted element toward a side of the scaffolding assembly once the pedestrian
canopy
support assemblies, in use, receive and support the pedestrian canopy
assembly.
[0009] To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the
existing
technology, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an
apparatus. The
apparatus includes and is not limited to a scaffolding assembly configured to
support the
weight of a work crew and materials during construction and maintenance of a
man-made
structure. The scaffolding assembly includes (and is not limited to) elongated
scaffolding
poles vertically extending (relative to a horizontal working surface), and the
elongated
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scaffolding poles are also spaced apart relative to each other. Each of the
elongated
scaffolding poles includes connection points spaced apart from each other. The
connection
points are mounted at spaced-apart intervals along a length of at least some
of the
elongated scaffolding poles. An overhead hoarding assembly includes (and is
not limited
to) a pedestrian canopy assembly configured to shield a pedestrian from a
falling object.
The pedestrian canopy support assemblies are transversally installed to
selected instances
of the connection points mounted to the elongated scaffolding poles. The
pedestrian
canopy support assemblies are spaced-part from each other once the pedestrian
canopy
support assemblies are installed to the selected instances of the connection
points. The
pedestrian canopy support assemblies are configured to receive and support the
pedestrian
canopy assembly once the pedestrian canopy support assemblies are
transversally installed
to the connection points. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies
transversally align
along a non-perpendicular direction extending between the elongated
scaffolding poles
that extend vertically (once installed). The pedestrian canopy assembly
transversally aligns
along the non-perpendicular direction extending between the elongated
scaffolding poles
that extend vertically (that is, along the non-parallel direction relative to
the horizontal
working surface) once the pedestrian canopy assembly is installed to the
pedestrian canopy
support assemblies (whereby, the pedestrian canopy assembly, in use, receives
and then
deflects, at least in part, an unwanted element toward a side of the
scaffolding assembly.
Preferably, the side that receives the unwanted element is the construction
side and not the
roadside of the scaffolding assembly.
[0010] To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the
existing
technology, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an
apparatus. The
apparatus includes and is not limited to an overhead hoarding assembly. The
overhead
hoarding assembly includes pedestrian canopy support assemblies transversally
installable
to selected instances of connection points mounted to elongated scaffolding
poles of a
scaffolding assembly (in which the scaffolding assembly is configured to
support the
weight of a work crew and materials during construction and maintenance of a
man-made
structure). The elongated scaffolding poles vertically extend relative to a
horizontal
working surface. The elongated scaffolding poles are spaced apart relative to
each other.
The connection points are mounted at spaced-apart intervals along a length of
at least some
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of the elongated scaffolding poles. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies
are spaced-
part from each other once the pedestrian canopy support assemblies are
installed to the
selected instances of the connection points. The pedestrian canopy support
assemblies are
configured to receive and support a pedestrian canopy assembly (once the
pedestrian
canopy support assemblies are transversally installed to the connection
points). The
pedestrian canopy assembly is configured to shield a pedestrian from a falling
object (once
installed). The pedestrian canopy support assemblies transversally align along
a non-
perpendicular direction extending between the elongated scaffolding poles that
extend
vertically (once the pedestrian canopy support assemblies are transversally
installed to the
elongated scaffolding poles). The pedestrian canopy assembly transversally
align along the
non-perpendicular direction extending between the elongated scaffolding poles
(the
elongated scaffolding poles extend vertically) once the pedestrian canopy
assembly is
installed to the pedestrian canopy support assemblies (whereby the pedestrian
canopy
assembly, in use, receives and then deflects, at least in part, an unwanted
element toward a
side of the scaffolding assembly. In accordance with a preferred embodiment,
the side that
receives the unwanted element is the construction side and not the roadside of
the
scaffolding assembly.
[0011] Other aspects are identified in the claims.
[0012] Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments may now
become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed
description of the
non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference
to the
following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken in
conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. I depicts an end view of an embodiment of an apparatus including a
scaffolding
assembly and an overhead hoarding assembly;
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus of
FIG. I;
[0016] FIG. 3 depicts an end view of an embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. I;
and
[0017] FIG. 4 depicts an end view of an embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. I.
[0018] The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by
phantom lines,
diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances,
details
unnecessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details that
render other
details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted.
[0019] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components
throughout
the several figures of the drawings. Elements in the several figures are
illustrated for
simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale. The dimensions of
some of the
elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for
facilitating an
understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. In addition, common, but
well-
understood, elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible
embodiments
are often not depicted to provide a less obstructed view of the embodiments of
the present
disclosure.
[0020] LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS
100 apparatus
102 overhead hoarding assembly
104 pedestrian canopy support assemblies
106 elongated y-shaped assembly
108 central hub
110 lockable connector point
112 first angle
114 second angle
116 elongated assembly
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118 spacer assembly
120 first elongated linear portion
122 second elongated linear portion
900 scaffolding assembly
901 pedestrian
902 man-made structure
903 falling object
904 elongated scaffolding poles
906 connection points
908 pedestrian canopy assembly
910 horizontal working surface
912 construction-facing portion
914 roadside-facing portion
916 first end section
918 second end section
920 third end section
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENT(S)
[0021] The following detailed description is merely exemplary and is not
intended to limit
the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described
embodiments. As
used, the word "exemplary" or "illustrative" means "serving as an example,
instance, or
illustration." Any implementation described as "exemplary" or "illustrative"
is not
necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other
implementations. All
of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided
to
enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the
disclosure and are
not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The scope of the invention
is defined by
the claims. For the description, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "rear,"
"right," "front,"
"vertical," "horizontal," and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples
as oriented in
the drawings. There is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied
theory in the
preceding Technical Field, Background, Summary or the following detailed
description. It
is also to be understood that the devices and processes illustrated in the
attached drawings,
and described in the following specification, are exemplary embodiments
(examples),
aspects and/or concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, dimensions and
other
physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be
considered as
limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. It is understood that
the phrase "at
least one" is equivalent to "a". The aspects (examples, alterations,
modifications, options,
variations, embodiments and any equivalent thereof) are described regarding
the drawings.
It should be understood that the invention is limited to the subject matter
provided by the
claims, and that the invention is not limited to the particular aspects
depicted and
described.
[0022] FIG. 1 depicts an end view of an embodiment of an apparatus 100
including a
scaffolding assembly 900 and an overhead hoarding assembly 102.
[0023] In accordance with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 (and generally to
all of the
FIGS.), the apparatus 100 includes (and is not limited to) a synergistic
combination of a
scaffolding assembly 900 and an overhead hoarding assembly 102.
[0024] The apparatus 100 generally pertains to users of the scaffolding
assembly 900 for the
case where the overhead hoarding assembly 102 is required for the protection
of (is to be
configured to protect) the public (non-workers) and/or workers.
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[0025] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the scaffolding assembly 900
includes a
type of scaffolding system used in North America, which is called the Systems,
Sure-Lock
and Ring Lock scaffold. The scaffolding assembly 900 includes connection
points 906
(also called, connector joins or system ledger), which are installed and
positioned in the
scaffolding assembly 900 (at various positions). The connection points 906 are
known and,
therefore, are not described herein in any detail. Examples or embodiments of
the
connection points 906 (which are known) are manufactured and/or supplied by
any one of:
(A) Layher Holding GmbH & Co., located in Gaglingen-Eibensbach, Germany, (B)
Mills
Construction Products Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and/or (C) Daystar
Enterprises
(System Scaffold & Sales) located in Cartersville, GA, USA, etc.
[0026] Examples or embodiments of the connection points 906 are described in
United
States Patent Publication number US20110180350 Al (Publication date: Jul 28,
2011, and
the inventor is Steve Howard Thacker) and in United States Publication number
US20140086669 Al (Publication date Mar 27, 2014, and the inventor is Peter
Rogers).
[0027] In general terms, the scaffolding assembly 900 is configured to support
the weight of
a work crew and materials during the construction and maintenance of a man-
made
structure 902 (such as a building having a plurality of floors, etc.). The
scaffolding
assembly 900 is configured to be positioned adjacent to the man-made
structure, and may
extend horizontally (horizontal length wise) along and/or vertically along
(height wise) the
man-made structure.
[0028] The overhead hoarding assembly 102 includes (and is not limited to)
pedestrian
canopy support assemblies 104 (also called, bracing members or ledger pieces).
[0029] The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are transversally
installable (fixedly
connectable, transversally installed) to the scaffolding assembly 900 in a
spaced-apart
relationship (that is, the instances of the pedestrian canopy support
assemblies 104 are
spaced apart from each other). The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104
are
transversally aligned along a non-perpendicular direction, in which the non-
perpendicular
direction extends through the scaffolding assembly 900 (once the pedestrian
canopy
support assemblies 104 are transversally installed to the scaffolding assembly
900). The
pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104, in use, receive and support
(directly or
indirectly) a pedestrian canopy assembly 908.
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[0030] The pedestrian canopy assembly 908, in use, receives and then deflects,
at least in
part, an unwanted element (such as, the falling object 903, weather elements
and/or debris,
tree debris, etc.) toward a side (that is, a vertical side) of the scaffolding
assembly 900
once the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104, in use, receive and support
the
pedestrian canopy assembly 908.
[0031] A technical effect provided by the apparatus 100 includes (and is not
limited to) any
one of: (A) a reduction, at least in part, of the unwanted element on a top
surface of the
pedestrian canopy assembly 908; (B) an improvement, at least in part, of the
safety of the
construction worker using the scaffolding assembly 900 and/or the overhead
hoarding
assembly 102; and/or (C) an improvement, at least in part, of the safety of
pedestrians
using the overhead hoarding assembly 102.
[0032] In accordance with a more specific embodiment (in accordance with more
specific
technical details) as depicted in FIG. 1 (and generally to all of the FIGS.),
the apparatus
100 includes (and is not limited to) the synergistic combination of the
scaffolding
assembly 900 and the overhead hoarding assembly 102.
[0033] The scaffolding assembly 900 includes (and is not limited to) elongated
scaffolding
poles 904 vertically extending relative to a horizontal working surface 910
(that is, once
the elongated scaffolding poles 904 are installed on (positioned on) the
horizontal working
surface 910).
[0034] The elongated scaffolding poles 904 are spaced apart relative to each
other (once
installed). Each of the elongated scaffolding poles 904 includes connection
points 906
(also called connector joins) that are spaced apart from each other. The
connection points
906 are also mounted at spaced-apart intervals along a length of at least some
of the
elongated scaffolding poles 904. Preferably, the connection points 906 are
also mounted at
spaced-apart intervals along a length of all of the elongated scaffolding
poles 904.
[0035] The overhead hoarding assembly 102 includes (and is not limited to) a
synergistic
combination of the pedestrian canopy assembly 908 and the pedestrian canopy
support
assemblies 104 (bracing members). The pedestrian canopy assembly 908 is
configured to
shield the pedestrian 901 from the falling object 903 (once installed to the
pedestrian
canopy support assemblies 104).
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[0036] The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are transversally
installable
(transversally installed) to selected instances of the connection points 906
that are mounted
to the elongated scaffolding poles 904. The pedestrian canopy support
assemblies 104 are
spaced-part from each other (once the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104
are
installed to the selected instances of the connection points 906). The
pedestrian canopy
support assemblies 104 are configured to receive and support (either directly
or indirectly)
the pedestrian canopy assembly 908 (once the pedestrian canopy support
assemblies 104
are transversally installed) to the connection points 906. The pedestrian
canopy support
assemblies 104 are transversally aligned along a non-perpendicular direction
extending
between the elongated scaffolding poles 904 that extend vertically (once the
pedestrian
canopy support assemblies 104 are transversally installed to the elongated
scaffolding
poles 904). More preferably, the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104
transversally
align along the non-parallel direction relative to the horizontal working
surface 910 (once
the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are transversally installed to
the elongated
scaffolding poles 904).
[0037] The pedestrian canopy assembly 908 is transversally aligned
(transversally aligns)
along the non-perpendicular direction that extends between the elongated
scaffolding poles
904 (once the pedestrian canopy assembly 908 is installed to the pedestrian
canopy support
assemblies 104). Once the pedestrian canopy assembly 908 is installed, the
pedestrian
canopy assembly 908, in use, receives and then deflects, at least in part, the
unwanted
element (weather elements and/or debris, tree debris, etc.) toward a side of
the scaffolding
assembly 900.
[0038] In accordance with a more specific embodiment (also called the retrofit
embodiment)
as depicted in FIG. 1 (and generally to all of the FIGS.), the apparatus 100
includes (and is
not limited to) the overhead hoarding assembly 102, and the apparatus 100 does
not
include the scaffolding assembly 900. For this case, the apparatus 100 is for
installation
(retrofit installation) to an existing instance of the scaffolding assembly
900.
[00391 In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the
scaffolding assembly
900 has a construction-facing portion 912 and a roadside-facing portion 914.
The
pedestrian canopy assembly 908, in use, deflects the unwanted elements toward
the
construction-facing portion 912 rather than the roadside-facing portion 914.
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[0040] In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the elongated
scaffolding
poles 904 are configured to be fixedly positioned (stationary positioned) to
extend
vertically from, and abut, the horizontal working surface 910, and remain
detached from
the horizontal working surface 910.
100411 In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the falling
object 903 falls
toward the pedestrian canopy assembly 908 along a downward vertical direction.
The
falling object 903 will strike the pedestrian canopy assembly 908 with a
downwardly
directed force, and the pedestrian canopy assembly 908 receives the downwardly
directed
force and then transmits this downwardly directed force to the pedestrian
canopy support
assemblies 104, and the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are
configured to
dissipate the downwardly directed force to opposite sides of the scaffolding
assembly 900
(that is, preferably to the instances of the elongated scaffolding poles 904
that are
positioned opposite from each other and are also spaced apart from each
other).
[0042] In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the
scaffolding assembly
900 is spaced apart from the vehicular curbside by about 18 inches (as may be
desired or
required).
[0043] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus 100
of FIG. 1.
[0044] In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the elongated
scaffolding
poles 904 include (A) a first plurality of the elongated scaffolding poles
904, and (B) a
second plurality of the elongated scaffolding poles 904. The first plurality
of the elongated
scaffolding poles 904 is positioned one after the other along a first row
(that is, the first
plurality of the elongated scaffolding poles 904 are spatially positioned and
aligned along
the linear first row of the elongated scaffolding poles 904). The second
plurality of the
elongated scaffolding poles 904 are positioned one after the other along a
second row (that
is, the second plurality of the elongated scaffolding poles 904 are spatially
positioned and
aligned along the linear second row of the elongated scaffolding poles 904).
The first
plurality of the elongated scaffolding poles 904 are spaced apart from the
second plurality
of the elongated scaffolding poles 904.
[0045] Preferably, the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are configured
to span, at
least in part, a width of a sidewalk (that forms the horizontal working
surface 910). It will
be appreciated that the width of the sidewalk may vary, such as (and not
limited to) from
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about three feet and ten inches to about five feet and four inches. The
pedestrian canopy
support assemblies 104 are configured to support the pedestrian canopy
assembly 908
(depicted as a set of boards that span across the pedestrian canopy support
assemblies 104)
that provides, in use, overhead protection for pedestrians that are positioned
below the
pedestrian canopy assembly 908. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104
are sloped
(to one side of the scaffolding assembly 900) once installed to the
scaffolding assembly
900. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are configured to span (at
least in part)
a section of the scaffolding assembly 900, and/or to brace the scaffolding
assembly 900.
Preferably, the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 include an upper peak
section
configured to form a peak section on (or facing) the roadside-facing portion
914 of the
scaffolding assembly 900, in such a way that the pedestrian canopy support
assemblies 104
accommodates the installation of signage (advertising, etc.) to face the
roadside-facing
portion 914. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 include a lower
valley section
configured to slope away from the peak section and from the roadside-facing
portion 914,
and towards the construction side 912 of the scaffolding assembly 900.
100461 Preferably, the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are configured
to permit the
movement (flow) of weather elements (rain, snow) and debris (tree debris
etc.), over to the
construction site side of the scaffolding assembly 900 rather than the
roadside-facing
portion 914 of the scaffolding assembly 900. Preferably, the pedestrian canopy
support
assemblies 104 are configured to permit the movement (flow) of snow and ice
(snow
and/or ice may more readily slide off the pedestrian canopy assembly 908) and,
thereby,
the area underneath the pedestrian canopy assembly 908 does not
(substantially)
accumulate snowmelt and/or ice melt (resulting from thawing of same material
positioned
on the top surface of the pedestrian canopy assembly 908). Preferably, the
pedestrian
canopy support assemblies 104 provide a one-piece body (thereby making for a
relatively
easier installation). The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are
configured to be
installed in the scaffolding system of the type used in North America. The
pedestrian
canopy support assemblies 104 are configured to facilitate relatively quicker
height
adjustment (that is, by providing the lockable connector point 110, a worker
may install
the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 with a hammer, for instance). The
pedestrian
canopy support assemblies 104 are configured to withstand relatively higher
load
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capacities (such as, about 75 pounds per square foot on the roof top and/or
about 5,000
pounds per square foot of leg loads on the vertical standards or the elongated
scaffolding
poles 904), to preferably match (or exceed) the requirements associated with
the
scaffolding assembly 900 (such as, the type of scaffolding system used in
North America).
The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are configured to provide a safe
walkthrough passage for the public, and may also be the support foundation for
a
cantilevered scaffold leading to the building and/or added height beside or
directly above
the pedestrian canopy assembly 908. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies
104 are
configured to provide a width and a capacity to meet specific constructions
and/or safety
requirements and construction-site conditions. The pedestrian canopy support
assemblies
104 are configured to be pre-measured and engineered; once installed, there is
relatively
less chance of installation error due to the set slope and the lockable
connector point 110
of the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 (to be securely connected or
coupled to
respective instances of the connection points 906). Preferably, the pedestrian
canopy
support assemblies 104 provide no loose pieces, such as nuts, bolts, or
clamps, etc. The
pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 have a shape that allows the middle
section of
the underside of the pedestrian canopy assembly 908 to have a preferred height
for the
installation of pedestrian lighting to be mounted underneath the pedestrian
canopy
assembly 908. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are configured to
be
relatively quicker and easier to set up (install) and/or take down, thereby
resulting in
reduced labour costs. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 preferably
include a
hot-dipped galvanized metal component or an aluminum alloy configured to
resist the
onset of rust or corrosion (and any equivalent thereof) while providing
sufficient support
strength, thereby increasing the operative life cycle of the pedestrian canopy
support
assemblies 104. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are configured to
support a
sloped instance of the pedestrian canopy assembly 908, and is configured to
reduce the
accumulation of weather debris such as tree debris, snow, water, etc. on the
pedestrian
canopy assembly 908. The pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 are
configured to
facilitate the installation of advertising space to (on) the scaffolding
assembly 900 (to help
promote the new construction activity currently underway, etc.).
[0047] FIG. 3 depicts an end view of an embodiment of the apparatus 100 of
FIG. I.
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[0048] In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, the pedestrian
canopy
support assemblies 104 transversally extend at a predetermined angle relative
to the
horizontal working surface 910 (once the pedestrian canopy support assemblies
104 are
transversally installed to the elongated scaffolding poles 904).
[0049] In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1, each of the
pedestrian
canopy support assemblies 104 includes a first end section 916, a second end
section 918
and a third end section 920. The first end section 916 is configured to be
releasably
connected to a selected one of the connection points 906. The second end
section 918
extends from the first end section 916. The second end section 918 is
configured to be
releasably connected to another selected one of the connection points 906. The
third end
section 920 extends from the first end section 916. The third end section 920
is configured
to be releasably connected to a yet another selected one of the connection
points 906.
[0050] In accordance with an embodiment (as depicted in FIG. 3), at least one
of the
pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 include an elongated y-shaped
assembly 106
(also called a strut or body) configured to provide overhead support for the
pedestrian
canopy assembly 908, with lockable connector point 110 (preferably, the
lockable
connector point 110 are of the wedge lock type connection point, which is
known and
therefore not depicted or described in detail).
[0051] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the elongated y-shaped
assembly 106
includes branches (preferably, three branches that form the Y-shape) that
extend radially
from a central hub 108, and each branch of the elongated y-shaped assembly 106
is
configured to connect to a selected instance of the connection points 906 that
is positioned
on a selected instance of the elongated scaffolding poles 904. Preferably, the
branches (at
least some of the branches) intersect at the central hub 108 (also called a
midpoint section).
The central hub 108 is, preferably, positioned midpoint, of the elongated y-
shaped
assembly 106.
[0052] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the elongated y-shaped
assembly 106
includes a first elongated linear portion 120 and a second elongated linear
portion 122 that
extends from the first elongated linear portion 120 along an obtuse angle
relative to the
second elongated linear portion 122. The first elongated linear portion 120
includes the
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first end section 916 and the third end section 920. The second elongated
linear portion
122 includes the second end section 918.
[0053] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the distal ends (distal end
sections) of
each branch of the elongated y-shaped assembly 106 include an end section
(such as, the
first end section 916, the second end section 918 and the third end section
920). Each distal
end includes a lockable connector point 110. Each lockable connector point 110
is
configured to selectively engage and securely lock to a selected instance of
the connection
points 906. Each distal end is configured to receive and support the lockable
connector
point 110.
[0054] The lockable connector point 110 is known and therefore is not
described herein in
any detail. Examples or embodiments of the lockable connector point 110 (which
is
known) are manufactured and/or supplied by any one of: (A) Layher Holding GmbH
&
Co., located in Gtiglingen-Eibensbach, Germany, (B) Mills Construction
Products Inc.,
located in Ontario, Canada, and/or (C) Daystar Enterprises (System Scaffold &
Sales)
located in Cartersville, GA, USA, etc.
[0055] Examples or embodiments of the lockable connector point 110 are
described in
United States Patent Publication number US20110180350 Al (Publication date:
Jul 28,
2011, and the inventor is Steve Howard Thacker) and in United States
Publication number
US20140086669 Al (Publication date Mar 27, 2014, and the inventor is Peter
Rogers).
[0056] The first end section 916 and the second end section 918 are spatially
positioned at
the same horizontal level once the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104
are installed
to the selected instances of the connection points 906, and the third end
section 920 is
positioned vertically above the second end section 918.
[0057] A first longitudinal axis extends from the first end section 916 to the
third end section
920. A second longitudinal axis extends from the second end section 918 to the
central hub
108. A first angle 112 (angle a) is formed or defined between the horizontal
and the first
longitudinal axis that extends from the first end section 916 to the third end
section 920. A
second angle 114 (angle 13) is formed or defined between the second
longitudinal axis that
extends from the second end section 918 to the central hub 108. In accordance
with a first
option, the first angle 112 is fixed in magnitude (such as, about 24 degrees),
and the
second angle 114 is also fixed in magnitude (such as, about 19 degrees), and
this
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configuration of the pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 provides about
(preferably)
a seven foot clearance underneath the central hub 108 (that is, the clearance
for the passage
way for pedestrian traffic). In accordance with a second option, the first
angle 112 is fixed
in magnitude (such as, about 34 degrees), and the second angle 114 is also
fixed in
magnitude (such as, about 26.6 degrees), and this configuration of the
pedestrian canopy
support assemblies 104 provides about a seven foot clearance underneath the
central hub
108 (that is, the clearance for the passage way for pedestrian traffic).
100581 FIG. 4 depicts an end view of an embodiment of the apparatus 100 of
FIG. 1.
[0059] In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in FIG. 4, at least one
instance of the
pedestrian canopy support assemblies 104 includes an elongated y-shaped
assembly 106.
The elongated y-shaped assembly 106 includes a first elongated linear portion
120, and a
second elongated linear portion 122. The second elongated linear portion 122
has a second
end section 918 configured to connect to an instance of the connection points
906. The
second elongated linear portion 122 extends from the first elongated linear
portion 120
along an obtuse angle relative to the second elongated linear portion 122. An
elongated
assembly 116 is affixed to the first elongated linear portion 120. The
elongated assembly
116 is configured to receive and support the pedestrian canopy assembly 908.
The
elongated assembly 116 includes a first end section 916 configured to be
releasably
connected to a selected one of the connection points 906. The elongated
assembly 116 also
includes a third end section 920 extending from the first end section 916. The
third end
section 920 is configured to be releasably connected to another selected one
of the
connection points 906.
[0060] In accordance with an option, a spacer assembly 118 is spatially
positioned between
the elongated assembly 116 and the first elongated linear portion 120. The
spacer assembly
118 is fixedly connected to the elongated assembly 116 and the first elongated
linear
portion 120.
[0061] It will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art would know that
technical features
of each embodiment may be deployed (where possible) in other embodiments even
if not
expressly stated as such above. It will be appreciated that persons skilled in
the art would
know that other options would be possible for the configuration of the
components of the
apparatus 100 (if so desired) to adjust to manufacturing requirements and
still remain
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within the scope of the invention as described in at least one or more of the
claims. This
written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the
best mode, and
also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention.
The patentable
scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other
examples that occur
to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are within the scope of the
claims if they
have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the
claims, or if they
include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the
literal
language of the claims.
[0062] It may be appreciated that the assemblies and modules described above
may be
connected with each other as required to perform desired functions and tasks
within the
scope of persons of skill in the art to make such combinations and
permutations without
having to describe each and every one in explicit terms. There is no
particular assembly or
component that may be superior to any of the equivalents available to the
person skilled in
the art. There is no particular mode of practicing the disclosed subject
matter that is
superior to others, so long as the functions may be performed. It is believed
that all the
crucial aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been provided in this
document. It is
understood that the scope of the present invention is limited to the scope
provided by the
independent claim(s), and it is also understood that the scope of the present
invention is
not limited to: (i) the dependent claims, (ii) the detailed description of the
non-limiting
embodiments, (iii) the summary, (iv) the abstract, and/or (v) the description
provided
outside of this document (that is, outside of the instant application as
filed, as prosecuted,
and/or as granted). It is understood, for this document, that the phrase
"includes" is
equivalent to the word "comprising." The foregoing has outlined the non-
limiting
embodiments (examples). The description is made for particular non-limiting
embodiments (examples). It is understood that the non-limiting embodiments are
merely
illustrative as examples.
