Modular pedestrian bridge and system

Abstract

A modular pedestrian bridge ( 10 ) is disclosed. In its simplest form, the bridge ( 10 ) includes: a span module ( 12 ) having a tunnel ( 14 ) sufficient to allow pedestrians to travel through the tunnel ( 14 ), the tunnel ( 14 ) being defined by a floor ( 16 ) and a top ( 18 ), defining a height ( 20 ), sides ( 22 ) defining a width ( 24 ) and upper and lower connectors ( 26 ) and ( 28 ), a tower module ( 30 ), a stair assembly ( 32 ), the tunnel ( 14 ) having sufficient dimensions to allow the tower module ( 30 ) to be telescopically fit into the tunnel ( 14 ) and the span module ( 12 ) being adapted to fit on a chassis or flat bed truck of a vehicle. The bridge ( 10 ) is configured to simplify assembly and disassembly and is adapted to fit on a chassis, flat bed truck and the like. The span module ( 12 ) is dimensioned, such that it does not have special freight requirements, possibly triggering state and federal escort laws for extra wide or long loads.

1 . A Modular Pedestrian Bridge, comprising:
 a span module having a tunnel sufficient to allow pedestrians to travel through the tunnel, the tunnel being defined by a floor and a top, defining a height, sides defining a width and upper and lower connectors,   a tower module,   stair assembly,   the tunnel of the span module having sufficient dimensions to allow the tower module to be telescopically fit into the tunnel.   
   
   
       2 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge of  claim 1 , wherein the floor of the span module has pockets strategically positioned and spaced to be received by a fork of a fork lift. 
   
   
       3 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge of  claim 1 , wherein the lower connector includes a male outwardly extending member having a hole and the upper connector includes a substantially complementarily configured female member having a hole. 
   
   
       4 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge of  claim 4 , wherein the upper connector includes a male outwardly extending member having a hole and the lower connector includes a substantially complementarily configured female member having a hole. 
   
   
       5 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge of  claim 1 , wherein the lower connector includes an outwardly extending member having a hole and the upper connector includes two outwardly extending members have a hole, the upper and lower connectors being complementarily configured to be connectable with and at least partially be received in each other. 
   
   
       6 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge of  claim 1 , wherein the span module includes strategically positioned and spaced vertical, angled and horizontal supporting structure and the top has a plurality of loops with holes configured to facilitate lifting. 
   
   
       7 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge of  claim 1 , wherein the span module includes a plurality of in box connectors configured to receive a twist lock, strategically positioned and spaced to facilitate connection and disconnection to and from a mobile vehicle with in box connectors similarly spaced. 
   
   
       8 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge of  claim 1 , wherein the tower module provides vertical support and includes strategically positioned and spaced vertical, angled and horizontal supporting structure and further includes an upper portion for supporting the span. 
   
   
       9 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge of  claim 1 , wherein the tower module includes at least one of: an upper portion and a lower portion with casters, adapted to facilitate horizontal movement when on a side; four legs with an upper portion and a lower portion, the legs include an outer tube and have an adjustable foot including an inner tube and flat foot; four legs with an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including outwardly projecting extenders, adapted to provide stability; and plurality of towers. 
   
   
       10 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge of  claim 1 , wherein stairs include at least one of a ramp and elevator. 
   
   
       11 . A Modular Pedestrian Bridge System, comprising:
 providing a span module having a tunnel sufficient to allow pedestrians to travel through the tunnel, the tunnel being defined by a floor and a top, defining a height, sides defining a width and upper and lower connectors, a tower module, stair assembly, and the tunnel of the span module having sufficient dimensions to allow the tower module to be telescopically fit into the tunnel;   transporting the span module, tower module and stair assembly to a job site; and   assembling the span module, the tower module and the stair assembly to form a bridge.   
   
   
       12 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge System of  claim 11 , wherein the providing step further includes providing at least one of the span module and tower module with pockets adapted to be received by a fork of a fork lift. 
   
   
       13 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge System of  claim 11 , wherein the providing step includes providing at least one of: (i) the lower connector includes a male substantially outwardly extending member having a hole and the upper connector includes a female member complementarily configured to receive the male member, having a hole; and (ii) the upper connector includes a male substantially outwardly extending member having a hole and the lower connector includes a female member with a hole. 
   
   
       14 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge System of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of connecting the span module and a chassis with a twist lock, adapted to facilitate connection and disconnection. 
   
   
       15 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge System of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing the tower module with casters, adapted to facilitate horizontal movement when on a side. 
   
   
       16 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge System of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the steps of: adjusting a height of the tower module telescopically; and providing outwardly projecting extenders at a lower portion, adapted to provide stability. 
   
   
       17 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge System of  claim 11 , wherein the assembling step includes at least one of the steps of:
 unlocking twist locks connecting at least one span to a chassis or flat bed truck;   unloading components in the tunnel of the at least one span;   aligning and interconnected at least one span end to end with a second span, to form an integrated and unitary span module of a desired length;   surveying the job site to determine if the tower height is within a certain threshold, and if not, adjusting the height;   attaching lateral supports to a bottom portion of the tower;   anchoring the tower to the ground;   placing and positioning the towers at appropriate locations;   picking, placing, aligning and connecting the at least one span with the towers; connecting stairs to the tower;   connecting handrails and a canopy to a platform of the tower; and   forming an integrated bridge structure.   
   
   
       18 . A Modular Pedestrian Bridge System, comprising:
 providing a span module having a tunnel sufficient to allow pedestrians to travel through the tunnel, the tunnel being defined by a floor and a top, defining a height, sides defining a width and upper and lower connectors, a tower module, stair assembly, and the tunnel of the span module having sufficient dimensions to allow the tower module to be telescopically fit into the tunnel;   transporting the span module, tower module and stair assembly to a job site; and   assembling the span module, the tower module and the stair assembly to form a bridge, wherein the assembling step includes:
 surveying the job site to determine if a height of the tower module is within a certain threshold, and if not, adjusting the height; 
 placing and positioning the tower modules at appropriate locations; anchoring the tower module to the ground; 
 picking, placing, aligning and connecting the at least one span module with the tower module; and 
 connecting stairs or ramps to the tower module. 
   
   
   
       19 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge System of  claim 18 , wherein the providing step includes providing at least one of: (i) a lower connector including a male member having a hole and an upper connector includes a female member complementarily configured to receive the male member, having a hole; and (ii) an upper connector including a male and a lower connector including a female member. 
   
   
       20 . The Modular Pedestrian Bridge System of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of providing the tower module with casters.