Removable load support system

Abstract

A temporary load support system including a permanent portion comprising a stud having a stem and crosspiece, and a removable load support member comprising a cavity, configured to receive the stud and engage the crosspiece upon relative rotation of the support member relative to the stud while the stud is received in the cavity, whereby the support member is removably attached to the stud so as to enable load transfer from the support member to the stud.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A removable load support system configured to support a load at a point adjacent a side surface of a pole, comprising: 
 a t-shaped stud affixed to the pole and extending out from the surface in a direction substantially normal to the surface, the t-shaped stud including: 
 a stem portion extending in a direction substantially normal to the surface, the stem having a base portion comprising a portion of the t-shaped stud proximal to the surface and attached to the surface so as to transfer a load force to the pole, and  
 a crosspiece carried by the stem so as to enable load forces to be transferred from the crosspiece to the stem, the crosspiece extending laterally from the stem to form a t-shaped; and  
   a removable support member having proximal and distal ends, the removable support member being configured at the proximal end to releasably attach to the t-shaped stud so as to transfer a load force from the support member to the t-shaped stud, the support member defining a cavity adjacent its proximal end configured to receive the t-shaped stud when the support member is slipped over the t-shaped stud and the proximal end of the support member is brought adjacent the surface, the support member further defining a first slot and a second slot configured to align with and receive the crosspiece as the support member is turned on the t-shaped stud, the removable support being attachable to the t-post by sliding over the t-post and rotating the removable support so that the crosspiece or the t-post is received in the slots.    
     
     
         2 . The removable load support system of  claim 1 , wherein the t-shaped stud and the support member each further comprise a rotation inhibiting surface, the rotation inhibiting surface of the support member and the rotation inhibiting surface of the t-shaped stud cooperating to inhibit rotation of the support member with respect to the t-shaped stud, inadvertent rotation and separation of the support member from the t-shaped stud being thereby inhibited.  
     
     
         3 . The removable load support system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotation lock.  
     
     
         4 . The removable load support system of  claim 3 , wherein the rotation lock further comprises opposing rotation inhibiting surfaces incorporated in the support member, and corresponding rotation inhibiting surfaces incorporated in the t-shaped stud, the support member and the t-shaped stud being configured to allow relative translational and rotational movement when the cross piece is received in the slot, translational movement moving the rotation inhibiting surfaces incorporated in the support member into facing relationship with the corresponding rotation inhibiting surfaces incorporated in the t-shaped stud.  
     
     
         5 . The removable load support system of  claim 3 , wherein the rotation lock further comprises a wedge configured to be inserted into a slot after the crosspiece is received in the slot to prevent the support member from rotating a sufficient amount to allow separation from the t-shaped stud.  
     
     
         6 . The removable load support system of  claim 5 , further comprising a releasable lock releasably holding the wedge in the slot.  
     
     
         7 . The removable load support system of  claim 4 , wherein the support member is rotated on the t-shaped stud and subsequently translated in substantially a direction in which the load is applied to the support to engage the rotation lock.  
     
     
         8 . The removable load support system of  claim 7 , wherein rotation inhibiting surfaces of the t-shaped stud comprise flats located adjacent the crosspiece.  
     
     
         9 . The removable load support system of  claim 1 , wherein the t-shaped stud is attached to the side surface of the pole by welding.  
     
     
         10 . The removable load support system of  claim 9 , wherein the welding is accomplished by applying an electric current through the t-shaped stud and the pole.  
     
     
         11 . The removable load support system of  claim 10 , wherein the welding further comprises formation of an arc between the t-shaped stud and the pole, heating the pole and t-shaped stud, and subsequently joining the t-shaped stud and the pole while heated.  
     
     
         12 . The removable load support system of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is formed of metal plate.  
     
     
         13 . The removable load support system of  claim 12 , wherein the metal plate is folded to form a U-shape, the U-shape being upside down when the support member is mounted on the pole and comprising a top portion and downwardly extending side portions.  
     
     
         14 . The removable load support system of  claim 13 , further comprising a bottom connection configured to resist spreading of sides of the support member under load.  
     
     
         15 . The removable load support system of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom connection further comprises a further folding of the metal plate to form an O-shaped cross section of the support member adjacent the proximal end of the support member.  
     
     
         16 . The removable load support system of  claim 15 , wherein the bottom connection further comprises a pin.  
     
     
         17 . The removable load support system of  claim 12 , wherein the support member defines weight-saving openings.  
     
     
         18 . The removable load support system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange adjacent the slot configured to strengthen the support member adjacent the slot to resist local deformation of the support member adjacent the slot when a load force is applied to the support member.  
     
     
         19 . The removable load support system of  claim 18 , wherein the support member is formed of metal plate and the flange is formed by bending deformation of the plate adjacent the slot.  
     
     
         20 . The removable load support system of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to act as a foot step.  
     
     
         21 . The removable load support system of  claim 20 , wherein the support member further comprises raised tread portions configured to inhibit slipping of a foot with respect to the support member.  
     
     
         22 . The removable load support system of  claim 12 , wherein the support plate is shaped substantially as a triangle.  
     
     
         23 . The removable load support system of  claim 22 , further comprising a bottom connection formed by welding to corners of the triangle shaped plate together adjacent the proximal end of the support member.  
     
     
         24 . The removable load support system of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom connection comprises a folded portion of the steel plate.  
     
     
         25 . A removable load support system configured to support a load adjacent a surface extending vertically, comprising: 
 a t-shaped stud affixed to the surface, the t-shaped stud further comprising a stem having a base at a proximal end attached to the surface and a distal end, and a crosspiece attached to the stem at the distal end, the crosspiece having a length dimension greater than the width of the stem and extending substantially horizontally from the stem on both sides,    a removable support member having proximal and distal ends and engageable with the t-shaped stud, the removable support member defining a cavity at a proximal end configured to receive the t-shaped stud, and further comprising first and second slots opening on the cavity which engageable with the t-shaped stud by placing the removable support over the t-shaped stud and rotating the removable support so the crosspiece of the t-shaped stud extends into the slots and thereby mechanically support, whereby a load force can be transferred from the su ember to the t-shaped stud attached to the surface.    
     
     
         26 . The removable load support system of  claim 25 , wherein the support member further comprises flanges adjacent the first and second slots, the flanges being configured to stiffen the support member adjacent the slots to provide increased resistance to deformation of the support member due to application of a load force.  
     
     
         27 . The removable load support system of  claim 25 , wherein the t-shaped stud further comprises a first rotation inhibiting surface and the support member further comprises a second rotation inhibiting surface cooperating with the first rotation inhibiting surface to inhibit rotation of the support member with respect to the t-shaped stud.  
     
     
         28 . The removable load support system of  claim 27 , wherein the t-shaped stud and the support member are configured so that the first and second rotation inhibiting surfaces are brought into contact by translating motion of the support member in a direction substantially the same as that of application of the load force, the surfaces being engaged after rotation of the support member with respect to the t-shaped stud so that the cross piece is received in the slots by said translating motion by pushing the support member in the direction of load application.  
     
     
         29 . The removable load support system of  claim 28 , wherein the first rotation inhibiting surface comprises a flat portion of the stem and the second rotation inhibiting surface comprises a portion of the support member extending into the cavity proximal end of the support member.  
     
     
         30 . The removable load support system of  claim 25 , further comprising a rotation lock.  
     
     
         31 . The removable load support system of  claim 30 , wherein the rotation lock further comprises opposing rotation inhibiting surfaces incorporated in the support member, and corresponding rotation inhibiting surfaces incorporated in the t-shaped stud, the support member and the t-shaped stud being configured to allow relative translational and rotational movement when the cross piece is received in the slot, translational movement moving the rotation inhibiting surfaces incorporated in the support member into facing relationship with the corresponding rotation inhibiting surfaces incorporated in the t-shaped stud.  
     
     
         32 . The removable load support system of  claim 3 , wherein the rotation lock further comprises a wedge configured to be inserted into a slot after the crosspiece is received in the slot to prevent the support member from rotating a sufficient amount to allow separation from the t-shaped stud.  
     
     
         33 . The removable load support system of  claim 5 , further comprising a releasable lock releasably holding the wedge in the slot.  
     
     
         34 . The removable load support system of  claim 31 , wherein the support member is rotated on the t-shaped stud and subsequently translated in substantially a direction in which the load is applied to the support to engage the rotation lock.  
     
     
         35 . The removable load support system of  claim 34 , wherein rotation inhibiting surfaces of the t-shaped stud comprise flats located adjacent the crosspiece.  
     
     
         36 . The removable load support system of  claim 35 , wherein the t-shaped stud is attached to the side of the pole by welding.  
     
     
         37 . The removable load support system of  claim 36 , wherein the welding is accomplished by applying an electric current through the t-shaped stud and the pole.  
     
     
         38 . The removable load support system of  claim 25 , wherein the support member is formed of metal plate.  
     
     
         39 . The removable load support system of  claim 38 , wherein the metal plate is folded to form a U-shape, the U-shape being upside down when the support member is mounted on the pole and comprising a top portion and downwardly extending side portions.  
     
     
         40 . The removable load support system of  claim 39 , further comprising a bottom connection configured to resist spreading of sides of the support member under load.  
     
     
         41 . The removable load support system of  claim 12 , wherein the support member defines weight-saving openings.  
     
     
         42 . The removable load support system of  claim 26 , in the support member is formed of metal plate and the flange is formed by bending deformation of the plate adjacent the slot.  
     
     
         43 . The removable load support system of  claim 25 , wherein the support member is configured as a foot step support.  
     
     
         44 . The removable load support system of  claim 43 , wherein the support member further comprises raised tread grip portions configured to inhibit slipping of a foot with respect to the support member.  
     
     
         45 . The removable load support system of  claim 25 , wherein the support member is formed of a metal plate initially shaped substantially as a triangle.  
     
     
         46 . The removable load support system of  claim 45 , wherein the bottom connection comprises a folded portion of the steel plate.  
     
     
         47 . A removable load support system configured for supporting a load from an object comprising: 
 a stud incorporating a stem having proximal and distal ends, carried by the object, the proximal end adjacent the object, the stud being configured to transfer a load force to the object through the proximal end;    a crosspiece incorporated in the stud so as to transfer a load force to the stud, the crosspiece extending laterally from the stud;    a support member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a slot, the support member being configured for temporary attachment to the stud at the proximal end of the support member by slipping the support member over the stud and subsequently rotating the support member to provide a mechanical interlock between the support member and the stud and crosspiece, the slot being configured to receive the crosspiece upon rotation of the support member, such that a load force can be transferred from the support member to the stud, and thereby to the object.    
     
     
         48 . The removable load support system of  claim 47 , further comprising a rotation inhibition interlock.  
     
     
         49 . The removable load support system of  claim 48 , wherein the rotation inhibition interlock is provided by the stud and the support member each further co the rotation inhibiting surfaces of the stud and support member cooperating to inhibit rotation of the support member with respect to the stud after the respective rotation inhibiting surfaces are brought together.  
     
     
         50 . The removable load support system of  claim 49 , wherein the stud incorporates two flats, each flat comprising a rotation inhibiting surface, and the support member comprises two cooperating surfaces comprising rotation inhibiting surfaces which cooperate with the flats to provide the rotation inhibition interlock.  
     
     
         51 . The removable load support system of  claim 47 , wherein the stud is attached to the object by an electric weld.  
     
     
         52 . The removable load support system of  claim 47 , further comprising a flange adjacent the slot defined by the support member, the flange being configured to strengthen the support member adjacent the slot.  
     
     
         53 . The removable load support system of  claim 52 , wherein the support member is formed of metal plate, and the flange is formed by deformation of the metal plate adjacent the slot.  
     
     
         54 . The removable load support system of  claim 47 , further comprising a rotation inhibition surface incorporated in the stud and a rotation inhibition surface incorporated in the support member, the rotation inhibition surfaces cooperating to inhibit relative rotation of the support member and the stud, the support member and stud being configured such that the rotation inhibition surfaces are engaged cooperatively to prevent rotation by a translational movement of the support member with respect to the stud after the support member has been placed over the stud and rotated to bring the support member into interlocking relation with the stud.  
     
     
         55 . The removable load support system of  claim 54 , wherein the direction of translational movement is parallel to a direction in which a load force is applied to the support member.  
     
     
         56 . The removable load support system of  claim 47 , wherein the support member is formed of a metal plate bent in a downwards U-shape defining a top portion and downwardly depending sides.  
     
     
         57 . The removable load support system of  claim 56 , wherein the support member further comprises a bottom connection between the sides configured to stabilize the bottom of the sides and resist deformation comprising spreading of the sides under load.