US-12618248-B2 - Support element, support structure and related aspects

Abstract

Described herein is a support element that may be a cantilever arm and a support structure being formed from multiple support elements for example to form a platform. Methods of assembly and use are also described. In one aspect, a support element is described with an elongated shape, a distal end and a coupling end and a cantilever form, where the coupling end of the support element is configured to couple with a structural member, the support element further configured to rotate once coupled from an inclined or declined position to a substantially horizontal plane, the support element once rotated to a substantially horizontal plane, extending generally orthogonally away from the structural member to a termination point about the distal end of the support element.

Inventors

• Bruce John Robertson
• Peter Douglas Hubbard
• Jeremy Brayden RAIKES

Assignees

• MODDEX NZ LP

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20210820

Priority Date

20200821

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A support element comprising: an elongated shape, a distal end, a coupling end, and a cantilever form, wherein the coupling end of the support element comprises opposing jaws, the opposing jaws clamping together to secure the support element to a structural member, the structural member being a beam, wherein the support element is configured to rotate once coupled from an inclined position or a declined position to a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the support element, once rotated to said substantially horizontal plane, extends orthogonally away from the structural member to a termination point about the distal end of the support element, wherein the structural member or part thereof is a flanged beam with a flange and the support element comprises a C-shape cross-section form with a top jaw and an opposing lower jaw and, when coupled to the flange of the flanged beam, the top jaw extends over the flange of the flanged beam to grip or bear on a far side or portion of the flanged beam, and wherein the opposing lower jaw extends under a near side of the flange of the flanged beam.
2. 2 . The support element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support element is a cantilever arm.
3. 3 . The support element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the structural member comprises a flanged top.
4. 4 . The support element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the structural member comprises a wider cross-section top and narrow cross-section body about which the opposing jaws clamp.
5. 5 . The support element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the structural member is a flanged beam on a bridge, building or scaffold.
6. 6 . The support element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein rotational movement of the support element stops when the opposing lower jaw bears on the flange of the flanged beam and, in concert with the opposing lower jaw interfering with the flange of the flanged beam, the top jaw also interferes with or bears on the flange of the flanged beam.
7. 7 . The support element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the opposing jaws cooperate to allow rotational movement of the support element once coupled to the structural member up to a point and then, beyond this point, the opposing jaws act as a stop to prevent further rotational movement of the support element relative to the structural member.
8. 8 . A plurality of support elements comprising: a plurality of support elements installed in series alongside a structural member to form a support structure alongside the structural member, wherein each support element of the plurality of support elements comprises an elongated shape, a distal end, a coupling end, and a cantilever form, wherein the coupling end of the each support element comprising opposing jaws, the opposing jaws clamping together to secure the each support element to said structural member, the structural member being a beam, wherein the each support element is configured to rotate once coupled from an inclined position or a declined position to a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the each support element once rotated to said substantially horizontal plane, extends orthogonally away from the structural member to a termination point about the distal end of the each support element, wherein the structural member or part thereof is a flanged beam with a flange and each support element of the plurality of support elements comprises a C-shape cross-section form with a top jaw and an opposing lower jaw and, when coupled to the flange of the flanged beam, the top jaw extends over the flange of the flanged beam to grip or bear on a far side or portion of the flanged beam, and wherein the opposing lower jaw extends under a near side of the flange of the flanged beam.
9. 9 . The plurality of support elements as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the each support element is a cantilever arm.
10. 10 . The plurality of support elements as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the structural member comprises a flanged top.
11. 11 . The plurality of support elements as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the beam comprises a wider cross-section top and narrow cross-section body about which the opposing jaws clamp.
12. 12 . The plurality of support elements as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the structural member is a flanged beam on a bridge, building or scaffold.
13. 13 . The plurality of support elements as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the support structure comprises at least one platform member.
14. 14 . The plurality of support elements as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the at least one platform member is selected from: grating, plate, beams, battens, trays, and combinations thereof, located on some or all of the plurality of support elements.
15. 15 . A structural member and associated support structure alongside the structural member, comprising: at least one support element, wherein each support element of the at least one support element comprises an elongated shape, a distal end, a coupling end, and a cantilever form, wherein the coupling end of the at least one support element comprising opposing jaws, the opposing jaws clamping together to secure the at least one support element to the structural member, the structural member being a beam, wherein the at least one support element is configured to rotate once coupled from an inclined position or a declined position to a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the at least one support element once rotated to said substantially horizontal plane, extends orthogonally away from the structural member to a termination point about the distal end of the at least one support element, wherein the structural member or part thereof is a flanged beam with a flange and the at least one support element comprises a C-shape cross-section form with a top jaw and an opposing lower jaw and, when coupled to the flange of the flanged beam, the top jaw extends over the flange of the flanged beam to grip or bear on a far side or portion of the flanged beam, and wherein the opposing lower jaw extends under a near side of the flange of the flanged beam.
16. 16 . The structural member and associated support structure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the structural member comprises a flanged top.
17. 17 . The structural member and associated support structure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the structural member comprises a wider cross-section top and narrow cross-section body about which the opposing jaws clamp.
18. 18 . The structural member and associated support structure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the structural member is a flanged beam on a bridge, building or scaffold.
19. 19 . The structural member and associated support structure as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the associated support structure further comprises a platform located on the at least one support element.
20. 20 . The support element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support element is a single-piece cantilever arm with integral jaws.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority from NZ767353 dated 21 Aug. 2020 with WIPO DAS code 57A9, the contents of which an incorporated herein. TECHNICAL FIELD Broadly described herein is a support element, support structure and related aspects. More specifically described herein is a support element that may be a cantilever arm and a support structure being formed from multiple support elements for example to form a platform. Methods of assembly and use are also described. BACKGROUND When assembling elevated structures there may be a need for support structures such as platforms alongside structural members like bridges, building beams and scaffolding. These support structures may be used to provide a platform (fixed or releasable), extend a structural member area, and/or to provide for additional support beyond the area of a structural member. There may be a desire to increase, for example, the width of a bridge, or width of a scaffold platform, or width of a structural beam e.g. to provide a pedestrian or bicycle pathway; provide a wider scaffold platform for movement of people on the scaffold structure; or to provide a wider beam from which to hang services such as electrical lines, lighting, water lines, sprinklers and so on. Existing methods of providing support structures of this nature typically require the process of fastening a support structure (fully or partly assembled) to the structural member using heavy lifting equipment, requiring extensive safety precautions including scaffolding and/or safety netting and/or remote personnel lifting equipment during assembly. In a railway bridge scenario for example, installing a platform to one side of the railway bridge quickly becomes complex as: the bridge may be at significant heights above the ground; there are few existing supports to work from to build sideways; and there is a tension between needing to halt train traffic to complete the install but a desire to maintain normal operations as well to minimise disruption. As may be appreciated from the above, a support element, support structure and related methods of assembly that minimise construction time and complexity may be of benefit or at least provide the public with a choice. Further aspects and advantages of the above support element, support structure and related methods of assembly will become apparent from the ensuing description that is given by way of example only. SUMMARY Broadly, described herein is a support element in the form of a cantilever arm that can be used alone or with other support elements to form support structures. Assembly is a simple coupling and rotation process that avoids problems in the art and simplifies construction. The support element, related support structures and so on are versatile and can be used in a variety of applications. In a first aspect, there is provided a support element with an elongated shape, a distal end and a coupling end and a cantilever form, the coupling end of the support element configured to couple with a structural member, the support element further configured to rotate once coupled from an inclined or declined position to a substantially horizontal plane, the support element once rotated to a substantially horizontal plane, extending generally orthogonally away from the structural member to a termination point about the distal end of the support element. In a second aspect, there is provided a cantilever arm with an elongated shape, a distal end and a coupling end and a cantilever form, the coupling end of the cantilever arm configured to couple with a flanged beam on a bridge, building or scaffold, the cantilever arm further configured to rotate once coupled from an inclined or declined position to a horizontal plane, the cantilever arm once rotated to a horizontal plane, extending orthogonally away from the flanged beam to a termination point about the distal end of the cantilever arm. In a third aspect, there is provided a plurality of support elements installed in series alongside a structural member to form a support structure alongside the structural member, each support element having an elongated shape, a distal end and a coupling end and a cantilever form, the coupling end of the support element configured to couple with a structural member, the support element further configured to rotate once coupled from an inclined or declined position to a substantially horizontal plane, the support element once rotated to a substantially horizontal plane, extending generally orthogonally away from the structural member to a termination point about the distal end of the support element; and optionally, a platform member located on some or all of the support elements. In a fourth aspect, there is provided a plurality of cantilever arms installed in series alongside a flanged beam on a bridge, building or scaffold to form a platform alongside the bridge, building or scaffold, each cantilever arm having an elongated shape, a