Portable covered walkway unit and method for constructing a covered walkway path

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for interconnecting two or more buildings,objects or areas by way of a series of nonpermanent structures. The nonpermanent structures preferably take the form of covered walkway units. By utilizing the system of the present invention, buildings, such as school classrooms, can be joined by covered pathways to thereby provide shelter for people traveling between buildings. The walkway units of the present invention are both portable and modular. These features allow the units to be easily transported and interconnected to form pathways of varying lengths and directions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable walkway for use in interconnecting two or more structures comprising: 
 a rectangular base formed from steel reinforced concrete having a weight in excess of one ton and having upper and lower planar surfaces, and first and second ends, female joint portions formed within the ends;    four upwardly extending supports each formed within one of the four corners of the rectangular base;    a roof mounted upon the supports and overlying the base, the roof having a central apex and downwardly extending sides;    a series of lifting eyes interconnected to each of the supports to thereby permit lifting of the entire walkway unit.    
     
     
         2 . A walkway path comprising: 
 a plurality of walkway units, each unit including a base having upper and lower planar surfaces and a number of ends, joining means formed within each of the ends, the joining means adapted to interconnect adjacent walkway units of the path;    means for interconnecting an individual walkway unit to a means for transport.    
     
     
         3 . The walkway as described in    claim 2    wherein the means for transporting takes the form of a series of lifting eyes with eyelets formed therein.  
     
     
         4 . The walkway as described in    claim 2    wherein the base is formed from steel reinforced cement and has a weight of approximately two tons.  
     
     
         5 . The walkway as described in    claim 2    wherein the roof has a central apex and downwardly extending sides.  
     
     
         6 . A system for joining a series of buildings by way of nonpermanent structures, the system comprising: 
 a series of portable modular walkway units, each of the units including;    a base having upper and lower planar surfaces and a periphery with at least two ends with joint portions formed therein, the joint portions functioning to interconnect the ends of adjacent walkway units;    a number of walkway paths formed by interconnecting adjacent walkways units of the series by way of their joint portions, the walkway paths extending between at least two of the buildings.    
     
     
         7 . The system as described in    claim 6    wherein each unit further comprises: 
 a series of upwardly extending supports each formed within the periphery of the base; and  
 a roof mounted upon the supports and overlying the base, the roof having a peripheral edge;  
 a series of lifting eyes with eyelets formed therein, the lifting eyes being positioned upon the supports to thereby permit the entire walkway to be lifted by way of cables.  
 
     
     
         8 . The system as described in    claim 6    wherein at least one of the walkway units in the series includes two ends and is angled along it length.  
     
     
         9 . The system as described in    claim 6    wherein at least one of the walkway units is formed in the shape of a T and includes three ends which are each adapted for interconnection with an adjacent walkway unit.  
     
     
         10 . The system as described in    claim 6    wherein at least one of the walkway units is formed as an intersection and includes four ends, each of which is adapted for interconnection with adjacent walkway units.  
     
     
         11 . The system as described in    claim 6    wherein the base is formed from steel reinforced concrete.  
     
     
         12 . A method of providing a pathway between two or more buildings, the method comprising the following steps: 
 constructing a series of different covered walkway units at an offsite location, each of the units having a concrete base with one or more joint portions formed within the base;    transporting the series of walkway units to a location proximate the buildings to be interconnected;    interconnecting the walkway units in an end to end relationship to form a pathway.    
     
     
         13 . The method as described in    claim 12    wherein the units are interconnected by positioning one of the walkway units adjacent a doorway of one of the buildings to be interconnected, and then positioning another of the walkway units adjacent a doorway of another of the buildings to be interconnected, and interconnecting the remaining walkway units by way of their joint portions such that the walkway units adjacent the doorways are interconnected and such that a continuous walkway is formed intermediate the two doorways.  
     
     
         14 . A method of providing a covered pathway between two or more buildings, the method comprising the following steps: 
 constructing a series of different covered walkway units at an offsite location, each of the units having a concrete base with each unit having one or more joint portions formed within its base;    transporting the series of walkway units to a location proximate the buildings to be interconnected;    positioning one of the walkway units adjacent a doorway of one of the buildings to be interconnected;    interconnecting the joint portions of the remaining walkway units such that a continuous walkway path is created.