Deployable sidewalk and method for using same

Abstract

A deployable sidewalk has a plurality of walking surfaces. Each walking surface is a plastic tube having a longitudinal axis, a first lateral end, a second lateral end, and a pair of axial holes therethrough. Each hole is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and spaced away from the first lateral end and the second lateral end. A flexible tube extends through each hole for joining the walking surfaces together. A spacer fits over the flexible tube between adjacent walking surfaces. Also disclosed is method of providing a temporary sidewalk including: rolling out a deployable sidewalk, described above, and thereafter walking on the walking surface of the deployable sidewalk.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A deployable sidewalk comprising:
 a plurality of walking surfaces, each walking surface being a plastic tube having a longitudinal axis, a first lateral end, a second lateral end, and a pair of axial holes therethrough, each hole being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and spaced away from the first lateral end and the second lateral end,   a flexible tube extending through each hole for joining the walking surfaces together, and   a spacer fit over the flexible tube between adjacent walking surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The deployable sidewalk of  claim 1  wherein the plastic tubes are ABS or PVC. 
     
     
         3 . The deployable sidewalk of  claim 1  wherein the plastic tubes are about 3 feet wide. 
     
     
         4 . The deployable sidewalk of  claim 1  wherein spaced away is about 6-9 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The deployable sidewalk of  claim 1  wherein a space between plastic tubes is in a range of about 1-3 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The deployable sidewalk of  claim 5  wherein the space is about 1 inch. 
     
     
         7 . The deployable sidewalk of  claim 1  wherein the flexible tube being a plastic tube or a fiber reinforced plastic tube. 
     
     
         8 . The deployable sidewalk of  claim 1  further comprising a cap at each terminal end of the flexible tube for securing the walking surfaces along the flexible tubing. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing a temporary sidewalk comprising the steps of:
 rolling out a deployable sidewalk including a plurality of walking surfaces, each walking surface being a plastic tube having a longitudinal axis, a first lateral end, a second lateral end, and a pair of axial holes therethrough, each hole being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and spaced away from the first lateral end and the second lateral end,   a flexible tube extending through each hole for joining the walking surfaces together, and   a spacer fit over the flexible tube between adjacent walking surfaces, and   thereafter walking on the walking surface of the deployable sidewalk.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the plastic tubes are ABS or PVC. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the plastic tubes are about 3 feet wide. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein spaced away is about 6-9 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein a space between plastic tubes is in a range of about 1-3 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the space is about 1 inch. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the flexible tube being a plastic tube or a fiber reinforced plastic tube. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the deployable sidewalk further comprises a cap at each terminal end of the flexible tube for securing the walking surfaces along the flexible tubing.