Method and Apparatus for Providing a Walkway

Abstract

A portable walkway system comprising a plurality of frames composed of upright assemblies attached to post base assemblies and connected by upper and lower runners. Roof panels are connected across the upper runners and floor panels are connected across the lower runners to create a covered walkway system. The frames can be anchored to the ground to secure the walkway and the various components of the walkway can be assembled and secured with bolts or screws. The walkway can be assembled easily and quickly and is particularly useful with temporary or modular buildings, since it can be easily and fully disassembled and moved to a new location as the buildings are moved or replaced.

1 . A walkway assembly system, comprising: 
     at least one frame including
 at least one post base assembly having
 at least two upright members, 
 at least one lower cross-beam operably connected to each of the upright members at or near their lower ends, such that the upright members extend upward and parallel to each other and perpendicular to the lower cross-beam; 
 
 at least one upright assembly having
 at least two vertical posts joined to the at least two upright members, 
 at least one upper cross-beam operably connected to each of the vertical posts at or near their top ends, such that vertical posts extend downward and parallel to each other and perpendicular to the cross-beam, 
 
 
     at least one elongated upper runner coupled to the top ends of the vertical posts so as to be perpendicular to the at least one frame; 
     at least one elongated lower runner coupled to the bottom ends of the upright members, so as to be perpendicular to the at least one frame and parallel to the upper runner. 
   
   
       2 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein the operable connection of the upright members and lower cross-beam is removable. 
   
   
       3 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 2 , wherein the operable connection of the vertical posts and upper cross-beam is removable. 
   
   
       4 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more side brackets for securing the at least one upper runner to the vertical posts. 
   
   
       5 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more runner brackets for securing the at least one lower runner to the upright members. 
   
   
       6 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mid-span support in operable connection to the at least one lower runner. 
   
   
       7 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one brace secured to the upright assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 4 , further comprising at least one roof panel removably coupled to the at least one upper runner. 
   
   
       9 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 5 , further comprising at least one floor panel removably coupled to the at least one lower runner. 
   
   
       10 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 9 , further comprising at least one leveling assembly operably connected to the floor panel. 
   
   
       11 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein the upright member and vertical post each further comprise at least one pre-drilled adjustment hole. 
   
   
       12 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tie-down assembly for securing the at least one frame to the ground. 
   
   
       13 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 12 , wherein the tie-down assembly utilizes one or more duckbill anchors. 
   
   
       14 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 12 , wherein the tie-down assembly utilizes one or more anchor rods. 
   
   
       15 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 4 , further comprising at least one joiner insert. 
   
   
       16 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 5 , further comprising at least one joiner insert. 
   
   
       17 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein the post base assembly is stabilized by being secured to a concrete pad, base plate, ABS pad, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The walkway assembly, according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one adjustable collar joined to the lower cross-beam for removably coupling with the at least one upright member. 
   
   
       19 . A method of constructing a walkway assembly, comprising: 
     constructing at least one frame by coupling
 a post base assembly having
 at least two upright members, 
 at least one lower cross-beam operably connectable to each of the upright members at or near their lower ends, such that the upright members extend upward and parallel to each other and perpendicular to the lower cross-beam; and 
 
 an upright assembly having
 at least two vertical posts joined to the at least two upright members, 
 at least one upper cross-beam operably connected to each of the vertical posts at or near their top ends, such that the vertical posts extend downward and parallel to each other and perpendicular to the cross-beam, and 
 
 
     coupling two or more frames with
 at least one elongated upper runner coupled to the top ends of the vertical posts so as to be perpendicular to the at least two frames; and
 at least one elongated lower runner coupled to the bottom ends of the upright members, so as to be perpendicular to the at least two frames and parallel to the upper runner. 
 
 
   
   
       20 . The method, according to  claim 19 , wherein the connection between the at least one upright member and the lower cross-beam, and the at least one vertical post and the upper cross-beam is removable. 
   
   
       21 . The method, according to  claim 19 , wherein the upright member and vertical post each further comprise at least one pre-drilled adjustment hole. 
   
   
       22 . The method, according to  claim 21 , further comprising,
 adjusting the height of the upright member to the desired position,   aligning the at least one pre-drilled adjustment hole in the upright member with the at least one pre-drilled adjustment hole in the vertical post,   coupling the vertical post to the upright member with a removable connection.   
   
   
       23 . The method, according to  claim 22 , further comprising removably attaching at least one roof panel to the at least one elongated upper runner. 
   
   
       24 . The method, according to  claim 23 , further comprising removably attaching at least one floor panel to the at least one elongated lower runner. 
   
   
       25 . The method, according to  claim 19 , further comprising affixing one or more tie-down members to each frame. 
   
   
       26 . The method, according to  claim 25 , wherein the tie-down assembly utilizes one or more duckbill anchors. 
   
   
       27 . The method, according to  claim 25 , wherein the tie-down assembly utilizes one or more anchor rods. 
   
   
       28 . The method, according to  claim 19 , further comprising stabilizing the post base assembly by securing it to a concrete pad, base plate, ABS pad, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       29 . The method, according to  claim 19 , further comprising at least one adjustable collar joined to the lower cross-beam for removably coupling with the at least one upright member.