Pier adjusting mechanism and method for facilitating the adjusting and leveling of a pier platform

Abstract

A pier or dock adjustment method permits adjustment of a height of a pier platform relative to a pier structure, the pier structure including at least a first post. The method includes the step of providing a platform height adjustment apparatus, the platform height adjustment apparatus including a platform support member and a height positioning mechanism. The platform height adjustment apparatus is slidably mounted on the first post. The post position of the platform height adjustment apparatus is fixed relative to the first post, the post position being situated above and proximate the pier platform. The platform support member is moved into a platform supporting position relative to the platform. The height positioning mechanism is actuated to thereby one of lower and lift the pier platform.

1 . A pier, comprising: 
 at least one post including a first post;    a pier platform mounted relative to each said post, said pier platform having a platform underside;    a temporary support member selectively vertically positioned upon said first post at a temporary, fixed position; and    a platform height adjustment apparatus slidably mounted along said first post and resting upon said temporary support member, said platform height adjustment apparatus including a platform support member and a height positioning mechanism, said platform support member supporting said pier platform, said height positioning mechanism configured for facilitating a selective vertical positioning of said platform support mechanism and, therefore, said pier platform relative to said first post.    
     
     
         2 . The pier of  claim 1 , wherein said platform support member includes at least a first support extension, said first support extension extending under said pier platform and operatively contacting said platform underside.  
     
     
         3 . The pier of  claim 2 , wherein said platform support member further includes a second support extension, said second support extension being located opposite said first support extension relative to said first post, said second support extension extending under said pier platform and operatively contacting said platform underside.  
     
     
         4 . The pier of  claim 2 , wherein said platform support member includes a main bracket section positioned adjacent said first post, said first support extension mounted substantially perpendicularly to said main bracket section.  
     
     
         5 . The pier of  claim 1 , wherein said platform height adjustment apparatus includes a post-receiving tube mounted thereon for facilitating the slidable mounting thereof upon a given said post.  
     
     
         6 . The pier of  claim 1 , wherein said height positioning mechanism is a jack apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . The pier of  claim 6 , wherein said jack apparatus is one of a scissors jack, a screw jack, a hydraulic jack, and a pneumatic jack.  
     
     
         8 . The pier of  claim 1 , wherein said platform height adjustment apparatus further includes a post-receiving tube and a base plate, said post receiving tube being one of hingedly mounted and selectively removably mounted to said platform support member, said base plate being slidably mounted relative to said post-receiving tube, said height positioning mechanism being mounted to said base plate and to said platform support member, said base plate resting upon said temporary support member.  
     
     
         9 . The pier of  claim 8 , wherein said base plate and said platform support member are selectively separated vertically relative to one another via operation of said height positioning mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . The pier of  claim 1 , further comprising a cross-member receiver positioned on said first post at a selected vertical post position relative thereto, said cross-member receiver being configured for receiving a pier cross-member therein, said cross-member receiving further being configured for selected vertical positioning along said first post.  
     
     
         11 . A platform height adjustment apparatus for adjusting a height of a pier platform relative to a pier support structure, the pier support structure including at least a first pier post, the first pier post having a temporary support member mounted thereon, said platform height adjustment apparatus comprising: 
 a post-receiving tube configured for facilitating the slidable mounting thereof upon the first post;    a platform support member configured for supporting said pier platform, said post-receiving tube being one of hingedly mounted and selectively removably mounted to said platform support member; and    a height positioning mechanism configured for facilitating a selective vertical positioning of said platform support mechanism and thereby capable of adjusting a position of the pier platform relative to the first post.    
     
     
         12 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said platform support member includes at least a first support extension, said first support extension for operatively extending under the pier platform.  
     
     
         13 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said platform support member further includes a second support extension, said second support extension being located opposite said first support extension relative to said first post, said second support extension for operatively extending under the pier platform.  
     
     
         14 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said platform support member includes a main bracket section positionable adjacent said first post, said first support extension mounted substantially perpendicularly to said main bracket section.  
     
     
         15 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said height positioning mechanism is a jack apparatus.  
     
     
         16 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said jack apparatus is one of a scissors jack, a screw jack, a hydraulic jack, and a pneumatic jack.  
     
     
         17 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 11 , further including a base plate slidably mounted relative to said post-receiving tube, said height positioning mechanism being mounted to said base plate and to said platform support member, said base plate being configured for resting upon the temporary support member.  
     
     
         18 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said base plate and said platform support member are selectively separated vertically relative to one another via operation of said height positioning mechanism.  
     
     
         19 . A method of adjusting a height of a pier platform relative to a pier structure, the pier structure including at least a first post, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a platform height adjustment apparatus, the a platform height adjustment apparatus including a platform support member and a height positioning mechanism;    slidably mounting a platform height adjustment apparatus on the first post;    fixing a post position of said platform height adjustment apparatus relative to the first post, the post position being situated above and proximate the pier platform;    moving said platform support member into a platform supporting position relative to the platform; and    actuating said height positioning mechanism to thereby one of lower and lift the pier platform.    
     
     
         20 . A pier, comprising: 
 at least one post including a first post;    a pier platform mounted relative to each said post, said pier platform having a platform underside;    a temporary support member selectively vertically positioned upon said first post at a temporary, fixed position; and    a platform height adjustment apparatus slidably mounted along said first post and selectably restable upon said temporary support member, said platform height adjustment apparatus including: 
 a platform support member configured for engaging said platform underside and thereby supporting said pier platform; and  
 a height positioning mechanism slidably mounted along said first post and hingedly mounted to said platform member, said height positioning mechanism being configured for facilitating a selective vertical positioning of said platform support member and, therefore, said pier platform relative to said first post, said platform support member being selectably lockable in one of a first angular position and a second angular position relative to said height adjustment mechanism.  
   
     
     
         21 . The pier of  claim 20 , wherein said platform support member includes at least a first support extension, said first support extension extending under said pier platform and operatively contacting said platform underside.  
     
     
         22 . The pier of  claim 21 , wherein said platform support member includes a main bracket section positioned adjacent said first post, said first support extension mounted substantially perpendicularly to said main bracket section.  
     
     
         23 . The pier of  claim 20 , wherein said platform height adjustment apparatus includes a post-receiving tube mounted thereon for facilitating the slidable mounting thereof upon a given said post.  
     
     
         24 . The pier of  claim 20 , wherein said height positioning mechanism is a jack apparatus.  
     
     
         25 . The pier of  claim 20 , wherein said platform height adjustment apparatus further includes a post-receiving tube and a base plate, said base plate being slidably mounted relative to said post-receiving tube, said height positioning mechanism being mounted to said base plate and to said platform support member, said temporary support member acting as a stop limit for movement of said base plate along said post.  
     
     
         26 . The pier of  claim 25 , wherein said base plate and said platform support member are selectively separated vertically relative to one another via operation of said height positioning mechanism.  
     
     
         27 . The pier of  claim 20 , further comprising a cross-member receiver positioned on said first post at a selected vertical post position relative thereto, said cross-member receiver being configured for receiving a pier cross-member thereon, said cross-member receiver further being configured for selected vertical positioning along said first post.  
     
     
         28 . The pier of  claim 20 , wherein said first angular position facilitates movement of said height adjustment mechanism along said first post and into contact with said temporary support member, said second angular position facilitating engagement of said platform support mechanism with said platform underside.  
     
     
         29 . The pier of  claim 20 , further comprising a handle attached to said platform height adjustment apparatus.  
     
     
         30 . The pier of  claim 29 , wherein said platform height adjustment apparatus includes a post-receiving tube, said handle being mounted thereto.  
     
     
         31 . The pier of  claim 20 , wherein said temporary support member includes: 
 a clamp member releasably fixed to said first post; and    a support member plate affixed upon said clamp member, said support member plate being configured for receiving said height positioning mechanism thereupon, said support member plate further having a post-receiving through-hole therein.    
     
     
         32 . The pier of  claim 30 , wherein said support member plate has a first plate side and an opposing second plate side, said first plate side facing said clamp member, said temporary support member further including a plate supporting extension mounted to said clamp member and to said first plate side of said support member plate.  
     
     
         33 . The pier of  claim 30 , wherein said support member plate is at least one of releasably and temporarily attachable to a portion of said height positioning mechanism.  
     
     
         34 . A platform height adjustment apparatus for adjusting a height of a pier platform relative to a pier support structure, the pier support structure including at least a first pier post, the first pier post having a temporary support member mounted thereon, said platform height adjustment apparatus comprising: 
 a post-receiving tube configured for facilitating a slidable mounting thereof upon the first post;    a platform support member configured for supporting said pier platform, said post-receiving tube being hingedly mounted to said platform support member, said platform support member being selectably lockable in one of a first angular position and a second angular position relative to said post-receiving tube; and    a height positioning mechanism configured for facilitating a selective vertical positioning of said platform support mechanism and thereby being capable of adjusting a position of the pier platform relative to the first post.    
     
     
         35 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said platform support member includes at least a first support extension, said first support extension for operatively extending under the pier platform.  
     
     
         36 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein said platform support member includes a main bracket section positionable adjacent said first post, said first support extension mounted substantially perpendicularly to said main bracket section.  
     
     
         37 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said height positioning mechanism is a jack apparatus.  
     
     
         38 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 34 , further including a base plate slidably mounted relative to said post-receiving tube, said height positioning mechanism being mounted to said base plate and to said platform support member, the temporary support member acting as a stop limit for movement of said base plate along said post.  
     
     
         39 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein said base plate and said platform support member are selectively separated vertically relative to one another via operation of said height positioning mechanism.  
     
     
         40 . The platform height adjustment apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising a handle connected to said post-receiving tube.  
     
     
         41 . A pier, comprising: 
 at least one post including a first post;    a pier platform mounted relative to each said post, said pier platform having a platform underside;    a temporary support member selectively vertically positioned upon said first post at a temporary, fixed position said temporary, support member including: 
 a clamp member releasably fixed to said first post;  
 a support member plate affixed upon said clamp member; and  
 a platform height adjustment apparatus slidably mounted along said first post and selectably restable upon said support member plate of said temporary support member, said platform height adjustment apparatus including a platform support member and a height positioning mechanism, said platform support member supporting said pier platform, said height positioning mechanism configured for facilitating a selective vertical positioning of said platform support mechanism and, therefore, said pier platform relative to said first post.  
   
     
     
         42 . The pier of  claim 41 , wherein said support member plate has a first plate side and an opposing second plate side, said first plate side facing said clamp member, said temporary support member further including a plate supporting extension mounted to said clamp member and to said first plate side of said support member plate.  
     
     
         43 . The pier of  claim 41 , wherein said support member plate is at least one of releasably and temporarily attachable to a portion of said height positioning mechanism.