Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural System for temporary or semi-permanent buildings such as trade show displays, corporate lobbies, or Museum Displays

Abstract

A rapid deployment and reuseable, multi-level structural system called Metrideck that uses traditional types of walls structures and handrail. Metrideck system includes (a) a set of vertical columns each with a set of attachment features; (b) a set of pre-manufactured beams each said beam with a set of attachment features; (c) a Quicset® for connecting beam and columns; (d) a deck panel with hardware to attach it to the beams and with slots to attach a hanger bracket to connect to the wall structure; (e) a series of curbing that encircles the deck panel perimeter with a set of attachment features; (f) a stair system; and (g) a set of handrail/guardrails wherein the decking system maintains a modular relationship to the mating wall structures, provides multiple platform configurations, uses fewer components, and provides a higher strength to weight ratio compared to other rapid deployment structural systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) made of durable materials and comprising:
 (a) a set of at least four vertical columns ( 35 ), each column with a set of attachment features;   (b) a set of at least four horizontal pre-manufactured beams each said beam with a set of attachment features;   (c) a Quicset for each connection of each said beam and each vertical column;   (d) at least one deck panel ( 60 );   (e) a series of curbing which encircles the at least one deck panel at a perimeter;   (f) a stair system; and   (g) a set of straight and/or curved handrail/guardrail configurations   
       wherein the Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reuseable Decking system ( 20 ) maintains a modular relationship to the mating wall structures and wherein Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system provides multiple platform configurations provides a higher strength to weight ratio compared to other rapid deployment decking systems. 
     
     
         2 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein the columns further comprise an inner stiffener ( 34 ). 
     
     
         3 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reuseable Decking system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein the durable materials are selected from the group consisting of Metals, reinforced plastics, and composite materials. 
     
     
         4 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reuseable Decking system ( 20 ) described in claim  4  wherein the metals are selected from the group consisting of steel alloys, aluminum, and titanium. 
     
     
         5 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) described in  claim 4  wherein the reinforced plastics are selected from the group consisting of poly urethanes, nylons, Poly Vinyl Chlorides, cast, and injection molded acrylics, and other reinforced polymers manufactured with reinforcing fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reuseable Decking system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein the modular relationship to the mating system walls is selected from the group consisting of walls with a bottom setting contiguous to a floor surface and/or deck surface and the walls are hanging outside the deck perimeter. 
     
     
         7 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein the component configuration can permit at least 14 structural configurations from a single M14 (6 m by 6 m) beam, column, deck, and handrail combination with the addition of one 1 m by 1 m deck panel. 
     
     
         8 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein the set of attachment features for the vertical columns are selected from the group consisting of holes for attachment bolts, holes for a female Quicset, an adjustable column foot, a stiffener, a wire management hole, and a column extension. 
     
     
         9 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein the set of attachment features for the beams are selected from the group consisting of a beam to column attachment plate ( 41 ) with holes for male Quickset ( 43 ), an intermediate beam support ( 55 ) with shoulder bolt ( 64 ), an intermediate beam attachment plate ( 65 ), a beam end ( 48 ), a set of beam lightening openings ( 57 ), and a torsion lock ( 59 ). 
     
     
         10 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein the Quicset includes with a pair of threaded structural bolts and nuts to attach to a column and beam, a male Quicset attached to an end of the beam and a female Quicset attached to the top area of the column wherein both the male and female Quicset have mating dovetails to provide a tight interlock without the need for tools or fasteners during an initial assembly of the column and beam. 
     
     
         11 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein the at least one deck panel is further comprising hardware ( 81 ) to attach the deck panel to the beams and slots ( 73 ) to attach a hanger bracket for connecting to a wall structure. 
     
     
         12 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein set of attachments for the curbing is selected from the group consisting of corners ( 69 , 70 ), covers ( 71 ), slots ( 74 ) for a handrail or guard rail, roto locks ( 67 , 68 ), and a hanging bracket ( 72 ) for straight and curved walls ( 77 , 78 ). 
     
     
         13 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) described in  claim 1  wherein the stair system includes components selected from the group consisting of upper and lower stair assembly, upper and lower landings, guard rails, and support structures, fasteners, treads, and tread noses. 
     
     
         14 . A Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) made of durable materials and comprising:
 (a) a set of at least four vertical columns ( 35 ), each column with a set of attachment features including holes for attachment bolts, holes for a female Quicset, an adjustable column foot, an inner stiffener, a wire management through hole, and a column extension;   (b) a set of at least four horizontal pre-manufactured beams each said beam with a set of attachment features including a beam to column attachment plate ( 41 ) with holes for male Quickset ( 43 ), an intermediate beam support ( 55 ) with shoulder bolt  64 ), an intermediate beam attachment plate ( 65 ), a beam end ( 48 ), a set of beam lightening openings ( 57 ), and a torsion lock ( 59 );   (c) a Quicset for each connection of each said beam and each vertical column, each Quicset includes with a pair of threaded structural bolts and nuts to attach to a column and beam, a male Quicset attached to an end of the beam and a female Quicset attached to the top area of the column wherein both the male and female Quicset have mating dovetails to provide a tight interlock without the need for tools or fasteners during an initial assembly of the column and beam;   (d) at least one deck panel ( 60 ) and further comprising hardware ( 81 ) to attach the deck panel to the beams and slots ( 73 ) to attach a hanger bracket for connecting to a wall structure;   (e) a series of curbing which encircles the at least one deck panel at a perimeter the curbing having a set of attachment features including corners ( 69 , 70 ), covers ( 71 ), slots ( 74 ) for a handrail or guard rail, a set of roto locks ( 67 , 68 ), and a set of hanging bracket ( 72 ) for connecting the curbing to straight and curved wall structures ( 77 , 78 );   (f) a stair system including components selected from the group consisting of upper and lower stair assembly, upper and lower landings, guard rails, and support structures, fasteners, treads, and tread noses; and   (g) a set of straight and/or curved handrail/guardrail configurations   wherein the Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ) maintains a modular relationship to the mating wall structures and wherein Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system provides multiple platform configurations, and provides a higher strength to weight ratio compared to other rapid deployment decking systems.   
     
     
         15 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reuseable Decking system ( 20 ) described in claim  15  wherein the durable materials are selected from the group consisting of Metals, reinforced plastics, and composite materials. 
     
     
         16 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reuseable Decking system ( 20 ) described in claim  16  wherein the metals are selected from the group consisting of steel alloys, aluminum, and titanium. 
     
     
         17 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reuseable Decking system ( 20 ) described in  claim 16  wherein the reinforced plastics are selected from the group consisting of poly urethanes, nylons, Poly Vinyl Chlorides, and other reinforced polymers manufactured with reinforcing fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reuseable Decking system ( 20 ) described in  claim 15  wherein the modular relationship to the mating system walls is selected from the group consisting of walls with a bottom setting contiguous to a floor surface and/or deck surface and the walls are flush with the outside of the deck surface or hanging outside the deck perimeter. 
     
     
         19 . A method to build a Metrideck Rapid Deployment and Reconfigurable Structural system ( 20 ), the method to build comprising the following steps in series:
 Pre-step: Gathering and organizing a full set of components and fasteners near a location for building a first main section of the structural system;   Step  1 : Assembling a part of the components, a first side perimeter beam connected to a first pair of two columns without the need of structural hardware;   Step  2 : Assembling a pair of end perimeter and connector beams to the first pair of two columns and to a second pair of two columns without the need of structural hardware;   Step  3 : Attaching an intermediate beam between the pair of end perimeter and connector beams by lifting the intermediate beam and rolling it onto a set of shoulder bolts on each of the pair of end perimeter and connector beams;   Step  4 : Assembling a second side perimeter beam connected to the second pair of two columns without the need of structural hardware;   Step  5 : Preparing and assembling a stair landing beam assembly ( 127 A) comprising at least three stair beams ( 127 ) and at least two upper landing support columns ( 112 ), the stair landing is assembled with structural hardware on the ground and then is lifted into a vertical position and connected to the first main section of the structural system;   Step  6 : Assembling by lifting and placing a landing deck panel ( 109 ) and a plurality of a deck panel ( 60 ) with a curbing to the beams of the stair landing and to the first and second side perimeter beams and each of the pair of end perimeter and connector beams of the first main section, each of the plurality of deck panels is attached in an order specified on a set of setup drawings and each deck panel is fastened to the beams with a plurality of torsion locks ( 59 ) whereby the torsion lock drops into a machined reveal in a deck surface and through a mating hole in a top flange of the beam, and each of the plurality of torsion lock is secured with a flange nut on the underside of the top flange of the beam and whereby each of the plurality of the deck panels is secured to a contiguous deck panel with rotolocks ( 67 ) and ( 68 ) in the edges of the plurality of deck panels;   Step  7 . 1 : Attaching the inside top handrail section ( 129 ) to the inside stringer on the top staircase ( 117 ) and sliding a pair of adjustable stair legs ( 103 ) into the leg pockets ( 102 ) of the stringers ( 98 ); and securing with the integral clamp bolts;   Step  7 . 2 : Lifting and sliding the upper section of the staircase ( 117 ) toward one of the stair beams ( 127 ) of the landing beam assembly ( 127 A), the one of the stair beams ( 127 ) further comprising 2 sets of upper and lower slotted holes ( 134 ) to locate and secure the upper section of the staircase ( 117 ) further comprising an attached upper bracket ( 100 ) with locating shoulder bolt ( 131 ) and slotted hole for structural hardware ( 56 );   Step  7 . 3 : Removably placing the shoulder bolt ( 131 ) of the upper bracket ( 100 ) into the slotted holes ( 134 ) of the stair beam ( 127 ) at an uppermost section of the upper section of the staircase ( 117 ) and then securing and connecting the bracket ( 100 ) to the stair beam ( 127 ) with a set of hardware ( 56 );   Step  7 . 4 : Assembling a lower section of the staircase ( 118 ) by lifting the lower section of the staircase ( 118 ) into position and by using the downward facing tenons on the lower stringer top brackets ( 104 ) which is dropped into an upward facing mortise in the upper stringer bottom brackets ( 102 ) and whereby the weight of the lower staircase pivoting off the bottom of the staircase on the ground, holds the lower section of a staircase ( 118 ) in position;   Step  7 . 5 : Finishing the staircase assembly ( 117 , 118 ) whereby the remaining sections of stair guardrail and handrails are secured to the stringers and whereby adjustable feet ( 105  on the stair legs ( 103 ) are used to straighten the tops of the upper and lower stringers ( 98 , 99 ) relative to one another so the upper and lower stair guardrails fit correctly together in the center;   Step  8 : Attaching a landing guardrail assembly ( 108 ) to the landing deck with a set of hardware that passes through a bottom flange of the guardrail, through an oversize hole in the landing panel and through an oversize hole in the top flange of the beam, then securing the set of hardware on the underside of the top flange with a group of flange nuts in a configuration such that a pair of two pieces of guardrail are connected on an outside corner with a handrail corner assembly ( 133 ), and finally connecting a set of pins with set screws to a solid aluminum handrail corner;   Step  9 : Lifting a group of system walls onto the deck surface and securing each of the group of walls with an 8 mm wall system clamp bolts ( 130 ) by inserting the clamp bolts into a group of 8 mm threaded inserts in the curbing;   Step  10 : Repeat steps as needed to build an additional section of deck and walls as pre-determined; and   Step  11 : Remove any surplus materials from the full set of components and fasteners from the location for building.