Elevated walkway system and method

Abstract

A walkway system includes brackets that are connectable to vertical frame members and supportable by horizontal frame members. Walkway support members include lips that engage with the brackets, horizontally-oriented portions that support a walkway member, and vertically-oriented portions that contact the building to stabilize the walkway member.

1 . A walkway system comprising:
 a building including a frame having a plurality of vertical members and a plurality of horizontal members supported above the ground by the vertical members;   a first bracket defining a first generally U-shaped cavity and being supported by one of the horizontal members;   a second bracket defining a second generally U-shaped cavity and being supported by one of the horizontal members;   said first and second brackets being positioned with respect to the building frame such that one of the vertical members extends through the first generally U-shaped cavity and another of the vertical members extends through the second generally U-shaped cavity;   a first walkway support member having a first vertical lip that extends into the first generally U-shaped cavity, a first horizontal portion that is operatively connected to the first vertical lip, and a first vertical portion that is operatively connected to the first vertical lip;   a second walkway support member having a second vertical lip that extends into the second generally U-shaped cavity, a second horizontal portion that is operatively connected to the second vertical lip, and a second vertical portion that is operatively connected to the second vertical lip; and   a walkway member supported by the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion.   
     
     
         2 . The walkway system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second vertical portions contact the building. 
     
     
         3 . The walkway system of  claim 2 , further comprising a first railing support member extending upward from the first horizontal portion;
 a second railing support member extending upward from the second horizontal portion; and   at least one railing mounted operatively connected to, and extending between, the first and second railing support members.   
     
     
         4 . The walkway system of  claim 3 , wherein the building includes a roof structure supported by the vertical members; and wherein said first and second rail support members extend higher than at least a portion of the roof structure. 
     
     
         5 . The walkway system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pins that cooperate with the brackets to retain the vertical members in the cavities. 
     
     
         6 . A method for use with a building having a frame including first and second vertical members and at least one horizontal member supported by the vertical members, the method comprising:
 possessing a bracket having first, second, and third segments; said first and second segments being parallel to one another; said third segment interconnecting said first and second segments, said first and second segments defining a plurality of holes; said first, second, and third segments defining a generally U-shaped cavity;   positioning the bracket with respect to the building such that the first vertical member extends through the cavity and the bracket is supported by said at least one horizontal member;   extending at least one pin through the holes on the first and second segments;   possessing a walkway support member having a lip, a first portion and a second portion; and   inserting the lip into the cavity of the first bracket such that the first portion extends substantially horizontally and the second portion extends substantially vertically and contacts the building.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising placing a walkway member on the first portion of the walkway support member. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the support member defines an upwardly-open cavity; and
 wherein the method further includes inserting a railing support member into the upwardly-open cavity.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising operatively connecting horizontal railings to the railing support member.