Patent Application
20220098869
The present invention relates to frame and stair structures, and, more particularly but not exclusively, to frame and stair systems and methods for use with modular protective systems.
This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the invention. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is prior art or what is not prior art.
Stair systems are well known in the construction industry, and are helpful in providing access to different floors within a building. Yet still further improvements in stair technology are desired. Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions for at least some of these outstanding needs.
The present invention was developed to address the challenges associated with existing modular protective systems and related overhead cover systems. For example, frame and stair systems as disclosed herein are well suited for use in providing safe and reliable access to modular protective systems and related overhead cover systems, and can also be used to facilitate the construction of modular protective systems and related overhead cover systems. Research and development has led to a novel approach for fabricating frame and stair systems as disclosed herein.
The present invention advances the science of frame and stair systems and methods. This disclosure describes a new frame and stair system that can be used with modular protective systems and related overhead cover systems. Particular focus will be placed on the ease in which the frame and stair system can be assembled, and the versatility in which the frame and stair system can be used with modular protective systems and related overhead cover systems. The frame and stair systems presented here are shown to be more versatile, adaptable, and effective than prior devices. What is more, the instant frame and stair systems are simple in construction, economical to fabricate, and easy to use, particularly in a time-efficient manner.
Embodiments of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements.
Detailed illustrative embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein. Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments of the invention.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” specify the presence of stated features, steps, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, or components. It also should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
In at least one embodiment, the present invention aims to address the shortcoming of existing stair systems by providing a frame and stair system that can easily be used with a wide variety of modular protective systems and/or overhead cover systems.
Turning now to the drawings,
According to some embodiments, frame and stair system 100 can be used in conjunction with a platform unit, for example as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0005695, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. According to some embodiments, frame and stair system 100 can be used in conjunction with a platform unit or protective wall, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,464,493, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. According to some embodiments, frame and stair system 100 can be used in conjunction with a platform unit, wall, or joist assembly, for example as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0130438, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
An exemplary assembly method can begin placing two stair pad assemblies (e.g. 160A, 160B) on the ground at an assembly site, along with six leveling pad assemblies (e.g. 120). For example,
As depicted in
In addition to positioning the lower two frame assemblies and lower stair assembly into place, methods of assembly can include positioning support legs for the middle stair assembly and upper frame assembly into position. For example, as depicted in
Further relatedly, as depicted in
After the lower stair assembly, distal frame assembly, lower proximal frame assembly, and upper proximal frame assembly are in place, a middle stair assembly can be set in place. The support rails can be used to lift the middle stair assembly and to set it in place. As shown in
After the middle stair assembly is in place, support legs for the upper stair assembly and upper panel stair adapter brackets can be set in place. For example, as depicted in
The right upper frame mount 134R of stair assembly 130A includes a sleeve or attachment mechanism 136R that can be coupled with a stair adapter bracket of an upper panel bracket assembly. For example, as depicted in
According to some embodiments, an upper panel bracket assembly 170 can include a tensioning mechanism 176 having a tension strap 177 with a locking cam 178 and a hook 179. In use, the tensioning mechanism 176 can operate to help keep the wall adapter bracket 174 connected or engaged with a wall or a portion of a wall or structure, such as a modular protective system (MPS) wall frame. The wall adapter bracket 174 can help to keep armor panels in place on a modular protective system during a dynamic event, such as a blast. As shown here, a wall adapter bracket 174 can be coupled with or extended with a stair adapter bracket 172 having a tab 171. In some embodiments, the stair adapter bracket 172 and/or tab 171 can help to restrain the upper steps of a stair assembly to the top of a modular protective system. This feature can provide additional stability and continuity between the modular protective system wall and the upper end of the stair assembly.
Exemplary frame and stair system embodiments are well suited for use with modular protective systems and related overhead cover systems such as those disclosed in previously incorporated U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0005695, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0130438, and/or U.S. Pat. No. 8,464,493. Frame and stair system embodiments provide modular structures to fit modular protective system walls having heights such as 4 feet, 8 feet, or 12 feet. In some embodiments, individual components of frame and stair system embodiments can be shipped to a construction site or location in an intermodal or ISO container. An exemplary frame and stair system kit can include three modular protective system frames or frame assemblies and six leveling pads, among other components disclosed herein. In some cases, a frame and stair system embodiment can be assembled without the use or requirement of special tools. In some cases, a frame and stair system can be installed as part of a modular protective and overhead cover system. In some cases, a frame and stair system can provide safe access to the top of a modular protective system wall, so as to facilitate completion of the installation of a modular protective and overhead cover system.
The use of frame and stair system embodiments as disclosed herein can help to prevent or reduce fall hazards that may be associated with construction of a modular protective system wall. In some cases, frame and stair system embodiments as disclosed herein can use the same or similar frames or frame assemblies such as those used in modular protective systems and/or overhead cover systems. In some cases, frame and stair system embodiments as disclosed herein can use the same or similar pad assemblies or bases (e.g. adjustable bases) such as those used in modular protective systems and/or overhead cover systems. Hence, a frame and stair system kit can include many of the same pieces that are used for constructing a wall section of a modular protective system and/or overhead cover system, and use of a frame and stair system can assist with either safely constructing the wall or being a permanent or semi-permanent access stair.
In some embodiments, because the same frame assemblies can be used, a stair and frame assembly can be made exactly the same height as each successive wall section that is being erected, an exemplary maximum height typically being three levels. Hence, regardless of the height of the wall being constructed, or the height needed to perform the wall assembly, the stair section can be the exact correct height to assist with the safe construction of the modular protective wall system.
As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as an apparatus (including, for example, a system, a machine, a device, and/or the like), as a method (including, for example, a business process, and/or the like), or as any combination of the foregoing.
Embodiments of the invention can be manifest in the form of methods and apparatuses for practicing those methods.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word “about” or “approximately” preceded the value or range.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as molecular weight, percent, ratio, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about,” whether or not the term “about” is present. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present disclosure. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain embodiments of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from embodiments of the invention encompassed by the following claims.
In this specification including any claims, the term “each” may be used to refer to one or more specified characteristics of a plurality of previously recited elements or steps. When used with the open-ended term “comprising,” the recitation of the term “each” does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or steps. Thus, it will be understood that an apparatus may have additional, unrecited elements and a method may have additional, unrecited steps, where the additional, unrecited elements or steps do not have the one or more specified characteristics.
It should be understood that the steps of the exemplary methods set forth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the order described, and the order of the steps of such methods should be understood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps may be included in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted or combined, in methods consistent with various embodiments of the invention.
Although the elements in the following method claims, if any, are recited in a particular sequence with corresponding labeling, unless the claim recitations otherwise imply a particular sequence for implementing some or all of those elements, those elements are not necessarily intended to be limited to being implemented in that particular sequence.
All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety or alternatively to provide the disclosure for which they were specifically relied upon.
Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term “implementation.”
The embodiments covered by the claims in this application are limited to embodiments that (1) are enabled by this specification and (2) correspond to statutory subject matter. Non-enabled embodiments and embodiments that correspond to non-statutory subject matter are explicitly disclaimed even if they fall within the scope of the claims.
Under paragraph 1(a) of Executive Order 10096, the conditions under which this invention was made entitle the Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, to an undivided interest therein on any patent granted thereon by the United States. This and related patents are available for licensing to qualified licensees.
