Modular platform system

Abstract

A platform module suspendable from a structure for supporting a dynamic load with respect to a support surface of the structure including a first framing member suspended with respect to the structure. A second framing member is suspended with respect to the structure and mounted with respect to the first framing member. A deck panel is positioned between the first framing member and the second framing member and suspended with respect to the structure. At least one adjustable suspension member is attached to each of the first framing member and the second framing member, and removably mounted with respect to the structure. Also disclosed is a modular platform system including a plurality of platform modules and a method for suspending a modular platform system with respect to the structure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A modular platform system suspendable with respect to an underside of a structure for supporting a dynamic load comprising: 
 a first platform module comprising a first framing member suspendable with respect to the structure; a second framing member suspendable with respect to the structure and mounted with respect to the first framing member; and a deck panel positioned between the first framing member and the second framing member and suspendable with respect to the structure;    a second platform module comprising a first framing member suspendable with respect to the structure; a second framing member suspendable with respect to the structure and mounted with respect to the first framing member; and a deck panel positioned between the first framing member and the second framing member and suspendable with respect to the structure; and    at least one channel trolley mounted with respect to the first platform module, wherein the second platform module movably connected to the at least one channel trolley and movable with respect to the first platform module between a first position operatively connected to the first platform module and a second position linearly aligned with the first platform module.    
     
     
         2 . The platform module of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of suspension members connected with respect to the first platform module, at least one adjustable suspension member attached to each of the first framing member and the second framing member, and each suspension member removably mountable with respect to the structure; and  
 a plurality of suspension members connected with respect to the second platform module, at least one adjustable suspension member attached to each of the first framing member and the second framing member, and each suspension member removably mountable with respect to the structure with the second platform module in the second position.  
 
     
     
         3 . The platform module of  claim 1  wherein the second platform module first framing member is operatively connected to the first platform module first framing member, and at least one channel trolley is mounted to the first platform module first framing member and positioned within a channel formed by the second platform module first framing member; and the second platform module second framing member is operatively connected to the first platform module second framing member, and at least one channel trolley is mounted to the first platform module second framing member and positioned within a channel formed by the second platform module second framing member.  
     
     
         4 . The platform module of  claim 3  wherein the at least one channel trolley comprises at least one rotatable wheel positionable within the channel of one of the second platform module first framing member and the second platform module second framing member.  
     
     
         5 . The platform module of  claim 2  wherein the at least one adjustable suspension member comprises at least one of a cable, a chain, a rod, a hook, and a threaded rod.  
     
     
         6 . The platform module of  claim 1  wherein the first platform module and the second platform module are connected in the second position.  
     
     
         7 . The platform module of  claim 2  wherein the at least one adjustable suspension member attached to each of the first framing member and the second framing member is removably mounted to a support surface of the structure.  
     
     
         8 . The platform module of  claim 2  further comprising a strut connected between a first suspension member and a second suspension member and contacting a support surface of the structure.  
     
     
         9 . A modular platform system suspendable from a structure for supporting a load with respect to an underside of the structure comprising a plurality of platform modules, each platform module comprising: 
 a first framing member suspended between a first support surface of the structure and a second support surface of the structure;    a second framing member suspended between the first support surface and the second support surface and mounted with respect to the first framing member;    a deck panel positioned between the first framing member and the second framing member and suspended with respect to the structure;    a plurality of suspension members each attached to the first framing member and removably mounted with respect to one of the first support surface and the second support surface; and    a plurality of suspension members each attached to the second framing member and removably mounted with respect to one of the first support surface and the second support surface.    
     
     
         10 . The modular platform system of  claim 9  wherein each platform module further comprises at least one adjustable strut spacer having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion connected to the first framing member and the second end portion connected to the second framing member.  
     
     
         11 . The modular platform system of  claim 9  wherein the deck panel comprises at least one of a vapor barrier, a heat seal and a solvent seal.  
     
     
         12 . A modular platform system supported from a structure comprising: 
 a plurality of operatively connected platform modules, each platform module comprising a first framing member, a second framing member and at least one deck panel positioned between the first framing member and the second framing member and suspended with respect to the structure;    wherein a second platform module of the plurality of platform modules is movable with respect to a first platform module of the plurality of platform modules between a first position operatively connected to the first platform module and a second position linearly aligned with the first platform module.    
     
     
         13 . The modular platform system of  claim 12  further comprising a third platform module of the plurality of platform modules movable with respect to the second platform module of the plurality of platform modules between a first position operatively connected to the second platform module and a second position linearly aligned with the second platform module.  
     
     
         14 . The modular platform system of  claim 12  wherein the second platform module first framing member is movably mounted to at least one channel trolley secured with respect to the first platform module first framing member and the second platform module second framing member is movably mounted to at least one channel trolley secured with respect to the first platform module second framing member.  
     
     
         15 . The modular platform system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one channel trolley comprises at least one rotatable wheel, the at least one rotatable wheel positionable within a channel formed by the corresponding second platform module framing member.  
     
     
         16 . The modular platform system of  claim 12  wherein the first platform module is suspended with respect to the structure using at least one suspension member attached to the first framing member and at least one suspension member attached to the second framing member, each suspension member removably mounted with respect to the support surface.  
     
     
         17 . The modular platform system of  claim 12  wherein a length of each suspension member is adjustable.  
     
     
         18 . The modular platform system of  claim 12  wherein the second platform module is suspended with respect to the structure in the second position using at least one suspension member attached to the first framing member and at least one suspension member attached to the second framing member, each suspension member removably mounted with respect to the structure.  
     
     
         19 . A method for installing a modular platform system supported from a structure for supporting a dynamic load with respect to a support surface of the structure comprising the steps of: 
 constructing the modular platform system comprising a plurality of operatively connected platform modules, each platform module comprising a first framing member, a second framing member, and at least one deck panel positioned between the first framing member and the second framing member;    suspending a platform module of the plurality of platform modules with respect to the structure;    extending one or more additional platform modules from a first position operatively connected to an adjacent platform module to a second position linearly aligned with the adjacent platform module; and    suspending the additional platform modules with respect to the structure.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein each of the plurality of platform modules is suspended with respect to the structure using at least one adjustable suspension member attached to the first framing member and at least one adjustable suspension member attached to the second framing member.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein each of the adjustable suspension members is removably mounted with respect to a support surface of the structure.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising connecting the first platform module to the second platform module in the second position.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of: 
 constructing a second modular platform system laterally adjacent the first modular platform system comprising a plurality of operatively connected platform modules;  
 suspending a first platform module of the second modular platform system with respect to the structure;  
 extending a second platform module from a first position operatively connected to the first platform module to a second position linearly aligned with the first platform module; and  
 suspending the second platform module with respect to the structure.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising connecting the second modular platform system to the first modular platform system.