Adjustable Telescoping Support Mechanism for Use with Concrete Forming Systems

Abstract

An adjustable telescoping support mechanism is provided that may be connected between members of two positionally separated and supported truss members for providing support for a concrete-forming surface for fabricating building floors or ceilings. The telescoping support mechanism may be easily positioned adjacent to the location of vertical concrete structures of a building, such as building support columns, stairwells or elevator shafts in order to tie in a concrete floor or ceiling to the vertical concrete structure. The mechanism provides a means for fabricating a floor or ceiling adjacent to a vertical concrete structure either prior to or after the vertical structure has been fabricated, without the need for supporting scaffolding, which impedes normal construction activity and creates safety issues.

1 . An adjustable length telescoping support mechanism for connecting to truss members for supporting forming platforms, comprising:
 a first connecting means capable of being supported by a first truss member, the first connecting means being fixed to an outer telescoping channel;   a second connecting means capable of being supported by a second truss member, the second connecting means being fixed to an inner telescoping channel;   the outer telescoping channel and the inner telescoping channel being arranged in a sliding telescoping relationship with one another for providing a rigid adjustable length support mechanism for supporting forming platforms between the first and second truss members.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the first connecting means relative to the first supporting truss member may be selected from the group consisting of a serial configuration and an orthogonal configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the second connecting means relative to the second supporting truss member may be selected from the group consisting of a serial configuration and an orthogonal configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a safety apparatus connected between the outer telescoping channel and the inner telescoping channel for preventing the outer telescoping channel from separating from the inner telescoping channel by limiting the maximum span of the adjustable length. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more handling means on the outer telescoping channel and one or more handling means on the inner telescoping channel for ease of installation. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising securing means in the first connecting means for securing to the first truss member and securing means in the second connecting means for securing to the second truss member. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising clamping means for securing a connecting means to a truss member. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a sliding means for securing a connecting means to a truss member. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the support mechanism provides support to one or more trusses that are positioned in a transverse orientation to the support mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The mechanism of  claim 9 , further comprising providing support to a forming platform positioned on top of the transverse-oriented trusses. 
     
     
         11 . The mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the forming platform is a concrete-forming platform. 
     
     
         12 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the support mechanism provides support for trusses and concrete-forming platforms adjacent to vertical concrete building structures. 
     
     
         13 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the forming platforms are concrete forming platforms. 
     
     
         14 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting means is rigidly fixed to the outer telescoping channel and the second connecting means is rigidly fixed to the inner telescoping channel. 
     
     
         15 . The mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the safety apparatus is a telescoping apparatus affixed between the outer telescoping channel and the inner telescoping channel. 
     
     
         16 . The mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the handling means is selected from the group consisting of handles and knobs. 
     
     
         17 . The mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the securing means comprises holes in the first and second connecting means for inserting fasteners for fastening the first and second connecting means to the first and second truss members.