Modular Platform System Components and Tools

Abstract

A support member and bracket for a modular decking system, wherein the support member includes at least one securing location at which the bracket is securable to the support member, and the bracket includes: one or more hooks configured to be received by one or more hook apertures of the securing location; and a pair of side walls and a further wall defining a tapering slot for receipt of a fin of a decking member or beam.

1 . A support member and bracket for a modular decking system, wherein the support member includes at least one securing location at wich the bracket is securable to the support member, and the bracket includes:
 one or more hooks configured to be received by one or more hook apertures of the securing location; and   a pair of side walls and a further wall defining a tapering slot for receipt of a fin of a decking member or beam.   
     
     
         2 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a plurality of securing locations at which the bracket is securable to the support member, each securing location including one or more hook apertures configured to receive the one or more hooks of the bracket. 
     
     
         3 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the tapering slot is an open ended slot at both a first and second end of the bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the bracket further includes a catch mechanism including a catch member configured to move between a retracted and an extended position with respect to the side walls of the bracket, such that with the bracket secured to the support member and the catch member in the extended position, at least part of the catch member is received by a securing aperture of the support member at the securing location. 
     
     
         5 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hooks include a pair of hooks. 
     
     
         6 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 5 , wherein the pair of hooks are configured to be received between two outer edges of the one or more hook apertures. 
     
     
         7 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 6 , wherein the two outer edges define a wide and narrow portion with a thickness of a portion of the bracket configured to be received by the or each hook aperture being greater than a width of the narrow portion and the wide portion being wider than the narrow portion. 
     
     
         8 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 7 , wherein the portion of the bracket configured to be received by the or each hook aperture is at least part of the pair of hooks. 
     
     
         9 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 6 , wherein the two outer edges are outer edges of a single hook aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 6 , wherein the two outer edges are outer edges of respective hook apertures. 
     
     
         11 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 1 , further including a connection member with a cross-shaped cross-section configured to be at least partially received by the support member to enable the support member to be connected to a further support member. 
     
     
         12 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more hooks include two pairs of hooks. 
     
     
         13 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each hook includes a hook head at least partially defining a hook gap including a wide mouth portion and a narrow inner portion. 
     
     
         14 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is configured to be flexed such that the distance between the pair of side walls is changed resiliently. 
     
     
         15 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 14 , wherein the pair of side walls are configured to be flexed towards each other for receipt of the or each hook by the or each hook aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The support member and bracket according to  claim 14 , wherein the bracket defines a threaded aperture for receipt of a male threaded member of the bracket, such that extension of the male threaded member through the threaded aperture presses the male threaded member against one of the pair of side walls to flex the side walls apart from each other. 
     
     
         17 . A modular decking system cross-brace member including:
 a beam; and   two brackets, each bracket coupled to an opposing end of the beam, wherein each bracket is configured to be secured to a respective securing location of a support member, and wherein each bracket includes:   one or more hooks configured to be received by one or more hook apertures of the securing location; and   a pair of side walls and a further wall defining a tapering slot for receipt of a fin of a decking member or beam and a further bracket.   
     
     
         18 . A modular platform system for use on a construction site, the system including a support member and bracket, wherein the support member includes at least one securing location at which the bracket is securable to the support member, and the bracket includes:
 one or more hooks configured to be received by one or more hook apertures of the securing location; and   a pair of side walls and a further wall defining a tapering slot for receipt of a fin of a decking member or beam.   
     
     
         19 . A decking member for a modular platform system, the decking member including:
 a frame having at least two frame members;   an end plate secured to both of the at least two frame members and including a fin extending substantially perpendicular to a main plane of the end plate, the fin being for receipt by a slot of a support member.   
     
     
         20 . The decking member according to  claim 19 , wherein the end plate is located at an intersection of the at least two frame members. 
     
     
         21 . The decking member according to  claim 19 , wherein the end plate is substantially triangular in shape. 
     
     
         22 . The decking member according to  claim 19 , wherein the fin and end plate are integrally formed. 
     
     
         23 . A decking member for a modular platform system, the decking member including:
 a frame member; and   a beam, wherein the frame member defines a recess with a lip, and the beam has a hook portion configured to be at least partially received by the recess and to engage the lip.   
     
     
         24 . The decking member according to  claim 23 , wherein the recess is an open ended recess such that the hook portion may be slid into and along the recess from an open end of the recess. 
     
     
         25 . A tool including:
 two arms; and   
       a pivotable coupling between the two arms to define a pair of handles to one side of the pivotable coupling and a pair of grip members to the other side of the pivotable coupling, 
       wherein the grip members each include, at their distal ends, a respective L-shaped member for applying a clamping force to a bracket. 
     
     
         26 . A modular decking system bracket including:
 one or more hooks configured to be received by one or more hook apertures of a securing location of a support member of the modular decking system; and   a pair of side walls and a further wall defining a tapering slot for receipt of a fin of a decking member or beam.   
     
     
         27 . The module decking system bracket according to  claim 26 , wherein the one or more hooks extend from the pair of side walls, and the side walls are configured to flex resiliently inwardly with respect to each other. 
     
     
         28 . The module decking system bracket according to  claim 26 , wherein the one or more hooks extend from the pair of side walls, and the side walls are configured to flex resiliently outwardly with respect to each other. 
     
     
         29 . The module decking system bracket according to  claim 28 , wherein one of the pair of side walls includes a threaded aperture configured to receive a male threaded member such that extension of the male threaded member through the threaded aperture causes abutment of the male threaded member against the other of the pair of side walls to flex the side walls outwardly with respect to each other.