Bridge assembly and method

Abstract

A bridge assembly includes a plurality of platform members which may be secured to support beams via individual platform chassis which are configured to allow tool-less attachment bolt heads thereto. A plurality of specially configured clamps are attached to the free ends of the bolts and the clamps are used to secure the platform members to the platform chassis. The platform chassis are each secured to the outer support beams via L-brackets that are mounted between the chassis and support beams. The support beams include flanged channels wherein the heads of a plurality of bolts may be attached without the need for tools. The platform members may be laid in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation with respect to the outer support beams with two different clamp styles being used depending on the orientation selected.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bridge assembly comprising:
 a) first and second outer support beams configured to be installed over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel; 
 b) a plurality of platform chassis configured to attach to and extend perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel; 
 c) a plurality of platform members configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis; 
 d) a plurality of clamps configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis and secure said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said platform member; 
 e) a center support beam configured to be installed between and parallel to said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis being attached to and extending perpendicularly between said center support beam and said first and second outer support beams; and 
 f) a plurality of L-shaped brackets attached to and interconnecting said plurality of platform chassis to said center support beam and said first and second outer support beams. 
 
     
     
       2. The bridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein said center support beam includes at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending exteriorly of the channel, and wherein each of said L-shaped brackets is mounted to a respective said bolt shaft extending from said center support beam and wherein each of said platform chassis include at least one longitudinally extending channel wherein the head of a bolt may be removably and slidingly positioned with the shaft of the bolt extending exteriorly of the platform chassis channel, and wherein said L-shaped bracket is mounted to said bolt shaft extending from a respective platform chassis and thereby attaching the said respective platform chassis to said center support beam. 
     
     
       3. The bridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first and second outer support beams each include at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within said flanged channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel, and wherein each of said platform chassis include at least one longitudinally extending channel wherein the head of a bolt may be removably and slidingly positioned with the shaft of the bolt extending exteriorly of the platform chassis channel. 
     
     
       4. The bridge assembly of  claim 3  wherein a respective said L-shaped bracket is mounted to a respective said bolt shaft extending from a respective said first and second outer support beam and also to said bolt shaft extending from a respective platform chassis, each said L-shaped bracket thereby attaching and interconnecting said respective platform chassis to said first outer support beam and another platform chassis to said second outer support beam, respectively. 
     
     
       5. The bridge assembly of  claim 4  wherein said first and second outer support beams each include a beam center space defined between first and second beam end plates, said first and second beam end plates each including a channel, and further comprising a reinforcement plate having opposite plate edges configured for removable mounting to a respective support beam by inserting and sliding said opposite plate edges into said channels on said first and second beam end plates, respectively. 
     
     
       6. The bridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein said platform members each include a truncated triangular center opening extending the full length of said platform member. 
     
     
       7. A method of bridge assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing and installing first and second outer support beams over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel; 
 b) providing and attaching a plurality of platform chassis perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel; 
 c) providing and attaching a plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis; 
 d) providing and attaching a plurality of clamps to said plurality of platform chassis and securing said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis with said clamps, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said platform member; 
 e) providing a center support beam between and parallel to said first and second outer support beams and perpendicularly extending and attaching said plurality of platform chassis to said center support beam and said first and second outer support beams; and 
 f) providing and attaching a plurality of L-shaped brackets wherein the plurality of L-shaped brackets are attached to and interconnecting said plurality of platform chassis to said center support beam and said first and second outer support beams. 
 
     
     
       8. A bridge assembly comprising:
 a) first and second outer support beams configured to be installed over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel;   b) a plurality of platform chassis configured to attach to and extend perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel;   c) a plurality of platform members configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis, each said platform members including first and second outer walls each connected to a respective lower wall having an inwardly facing surface;   d) a plurality of clamps configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis and secure said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said inwardly facing surface of each said lower wall of a respective said platform member;   wherein said plurality of platform members extend parallel to said first and second outer support beams with said clamp finger portion extending in a direction parallel to a respective said platform chassis.   
     
     
       9. The bridge assembly of claim 8 wherein said main body portion of each of said clamps includes a hole and further including a bolt have a head portion positioned with said longitudinal channel of a respective said platform member, said bolt having a shaft extending from a respective said head which extends through said hole in said main body portion of a respective said clamp thereby securing said clamp to a respective said platform chassis. 
     
     
       10. A bridge assembly comprising:
 a) first and second outer support beams configured to be installed over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel;   b) a plurality of platform chassis configured to attach to and extend perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel;   c) a plurality of platform members configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis, each said platform members including first and second outer walls each connected to a respective lower wall having an inwardly facing surface;   d) a plurality of clamps configured to attach to said plurality of platform chassis and secure said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said inwardly facing surface of each said lower wall of a respective said platform member;   wherein said plurality of platform members extend perpendicular to said first and second outer support beams with said clamp finger portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a respective said platform chassis.   
     
     
       11. The bridge assembly of claim 10 wherein said main body portion of each of said clamps includes a hole and further including a bolt have a head portion positioned with said longitudinal channel of a respective said platform member, said bolt having a shaft extending from a respective said head which extends through said hole in said main body portion of a respective said clamp thereby securing said clamp to a respective said platform chassis. 
     
     
       12. A method of bridge assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing and installing first and second outer support beams over a land feature in spaced, parallel relation to each other and each having at least one flanged channel configured to receive the head of a bolt within the channel with the bolt shaft extending outwardly of the channel;   b) providing and attaching a plurality of platform chassis perpendicularly between said first and second outer support beams, said plurality of platform chassis each further including at least one longitudinally extending channel;   c) providing and attaching a plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis with all of said plurality of platform members positioned in either one of a parallel or perpendicular orientation with respect to said first and second outer support beams, each said platform members including first and second outer walls each connected to a respective lower wall having an inwardly facing surface; and   d) providing and attaching a plurality of clamps to said plurality of platform chassis and securing said plurality of platform members to said plurality of platform chassis with said clamps, said plurality of clamps each having a main body portion and a finger portion with said main body portion attached to said platform chassis at the location of said at least one longitudinal channel and said finger portion attached to said inwardly facing surface of each said lower wall of a respective said platform member.