Sidewalk architectural features

Abstract

A sidewalk architectural feature defining a length, a width and a height, wherein the length is greater than the width, the sidewalk architectural feature including a plurality of vertical members extending in a direction generally parallel with the height, the plurality of vertical members defining a plurality of bays of the sidewalk architectural feature including a first bay and a second bay disposed adjacent to the first bay; and a framework comprising a plurality of spanning members extending between adjacent vertical members, wherein at least a portion of the framework is coupled to at least one of the plurality of vertical members through a flexible interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sidewalk architectural feature defining a length, a width and a height, wherein the length is greater than the width, the sidewalk architectural feature comprising:
 a plurality of vertical members extending in a direction generally parallel with the height, the plurality of vertical members defining a plurality of bays of the sidewalk architectural feature including a first bay and a second bay disposed adjacent to the first bay; and   a framework comprising a plurality of support members extending between adjacent vertical members,   wherein at least a portion of the framework is coupled to at least one of the plurality of vertical members through a flexible interface.   
     
     
         2 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 1 , wherein the first bay defines a first length and the second bay defines a second length different than the first length. 
     
     
         3 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 2 , wherein the first length is at least 16 feet, and wherein the second length is less than 12 feet. 
     
     
         4 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 1 , wherein the first bay defines a pass-through extending in the width direction, and wherein at least 75% of a length of the pass-through, as measured parallel with the length of the sidewalk architectural feature, is unobstructed along the entire height of the first bay. 
     
     
         5 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible interface is flexible in a direction generally parallel with the length of the sidewalk architectural feature, and wherein the flexible interface is relatively rigid in a direction parallel with the width of the sidewalk architectural feature. 
     
     
         6 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 1 , wherein a member of the framework comprises an elongated member having a flange defining a reinforced edge comprising a bent end. 
     
     
         7 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible interface comprises a single axis pivot point between the portion of the framework and the plurality of vertical members. 
     
     
         8 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible interface comprises a plurality of fasteners disposed along the single axis. 
     
     
         9 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 1 , wherein the second bay comprises one or more angled support members extending between one or more of the vertical members and the framework, and wherein the first bay is essentially free of angled support members. 
     
     
         10 . A sidewalk architectural feature defining a length, a width and a height, wherein the length is greater than the width, the sidewalk architectural feature comprising:
 a plurality of vertical members extending in a direction generally parallel with the height, the plurality of vertical members defining one or more bays of the sidewalk architectural feature, wherein at least one of the one or more bays comprises an elongated bay having a length of at least 16 feet, and wherein a loading force of each of the plurality of vertical members is less than 1500 pounds per square foot (PSF).   
     
     
         11 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated bay defines a flexible interface configured to flex during incurrence of loading forces. 
     
     
         12 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 10 , wherein an adjacent bay of the one or more bays has a length less than 16 feet, and wherein the adjacent bay is disposed adjacent to the elongated bay. 
     
     
         13 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 12 , wherein the adjacent bay comprises one or more angled support members, and wherein the elongated bay is essentially free of angled support members. 
     
     
         14 . The sidewalk architectural feature of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of vertical members comprises a vertical adjustment element configured to selectively set a height of the at least one of the plurality of vertical members. 
     
     
         15 . A component for a sidewalk architectural feature including a plurality of vertical members and non-vertical members interconnected to form a plurality of bays, the component comprising:
 a generally cylindrical member comprising:
 a body configured to receive at least one of the plurality of vertical members; 
 a selectively engageable fastener configured to selectively secure the body to the at least one of the plurality of vertical members; and 
 one or more interfaces extending from the body and configured to couple the body to an angled support member of the sidewalk architectural feature, 
   wherein the component is configured to be installed on the at least one of the plurality of vertical members.   
     
     
         16 . The component of  claim 15 , wherein the component is configured to be installed on the vertical member at an installation site of the sidewalk architectural feature. 
     
     
         17 . The component of  claim 15 , wherein the body comprises a split body. 
     
     
         18 . The component of  claim 15 , wherein the component further comprises an inner sleeve configured to be disposed between the body of the generally cylindrical member and the vertical member. 
     
     
         19 . The component of  claim 15 , wherein the generally cylindrical member further comprises one or more interfaces configured to couple the body to the vertical member of an adjacent bay. 
     
     
         20 . The component of  claim 15 , wherein the generally cylindrical member is configured to be coupled to the at least one of the plurality of vertical members using a plurality of connecting members.