Sidewalk Shed Scaffold Apparatus, System and Method

Abstract

A sidewalk shed and system includes a plurality of columns and a plurality of major beams. Each column includes one to four column face plate assemblies, based on the application, for attachment to major beams. Each column face plate assembly comprises a column face plate, trapezoidal-shaped top and bottom gussets, and a vertical plate support, which in combination support the column face plate in a spaced-apart relation to a column. Major beam face plates attached to the opposing ends of a major beam releasably engage the column face plate assemblies using fasteners. Minor beams span opposing major beams. The minor beams may support other sidewalk shed structures, such as decking, parapets, lighting, signage, and other scaffolding.

Claims

1. A sidewalk shed, the sidewalk shed comprising: a) a column, the column having a column base and a column top, the column defining a column longitudinal axis between the column base and the column top, the column having a column outer surface, the column outer surface defining a column width normal to the column longitudinal axis; b) a column face plate, the column face plate being supported by the column in a spaced apart relation to the column outer surface proximal to the column top, the column face plate being planar and defining a column face plate top end and an opposing column face plate bottom end, the column face plate having a column face plate longitudinal axis between the column face plate top end and the column face plate bottom end, the column face plate having a column face plate transverse axis, the column face plate transverse axis and the column longitudinal axis defining skew lines, the angle between the skew lines being substantially a right angle, the column face plate having a width along the column face plate transverse axis, the column face plate width being greater than the column width; c) a major beam, the major beam being elongated and having a major beam first end and an opposing major beam second end, the major beam defining a major beam longitudinal axis between the major beam first end and the major beam second end, the major beam having a major beam height and a major beam width; d) a first major beam face plate and a second major beam face plate, the first major beam face plate being attached to the major beam at the major beam first end, the second major beam face plate being attached to the major beam at the major beam second end, the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate each being planar, the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate each having a major beam face plate length and a major beam face plate width, the major beam face plate length corresponding to the column face plate length and being greater than the major beam height, the major beam face plate width corresponding to the column face plate width and being greater than the major beam width, the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate each having a configuration for interchangeable and releasable attachment to the column face plate, the major beam longitudinal axis being substantially normal to the column longitudinal axis when the first major beam face plate or the second major beam face plate is releasably attached to the column face plate.

2. The sidewalk shed of claim 1 wherein the column face plate longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to the column longitudinal axis and wherein the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate are substantially normal to the major beam longitudinal axis.

3. The sidewalk shed of claim 2, further comprising: a) a top gusset, the top gusset being planar and trapezoidal in shape, the top gusset having a top gusset narrow end with a top gusset narrow end width, the top gusset narrow end width corresponding to the column width, the top gusset narrow end being attached to the column surface, the top gusset having a top gusset wide end having a top gusset wide end width, the top gusset wide end width corresponding to the column face plate width, the top gusset wide end being attached to the column face plate top end, the top gusset wide end width being greater than the top gusset narrow end width; b) a bottom gusset, the bottom gusset being planar and trapezoidal in shape, the bottom gusset having a bottom gusset narrow end having a bottom gusset narrow end width, the bottom gusset narrow end width corresponding to the column width, the bottom gusset narrow end being attached to the column surface, the bottom gusset having a bottom gusset wide end having a bottom gusset wide end width, the bottom gusset wide end width corresponding to the column face plate width, the bottom gusset wide end being attached to the column face plate bottom end, the bottom gusset wide end width being greater than the bottom gusset narrow end width, the top gusset and the bottom gusset thereby attaching the column face plate to the column in a spaced-apart relation to the column surface.

4. The sidewalk shed of claim 3 wherein the configuration for releasable attachment of the first major beam face plate or the second major beam face plate and the column face plate comprising: a) a plurality of major beam face plate holes defined by the first major beam face plate or by the second major beam face plate and a plurality of column face plate holes defined by the column face plate, each of the the major beam face plate holes corresponding to a one of the column face plate holes; b) a plurality of threaded fasteners configured to penetrate the major beam face plate holes and the column face plate holes and to releasably attach the major beam to the column.

5. The sidewalk shed of claim 4, further comprising: a vertical plate having a first vertical plate edge and an opposing second vertical plate edge, the first vertical plate edge being aligned with the column longitudinal axis and attached to the column surface, the second vertical plate edge being aligned with the column face plate longitudinal axis and attached to the column face plate, the vertical plate being disposed between and attached to the top gusset and the bottom gusset, wherein the vertical plate, the top gusset and the bottom gusset in combination support the column face plate in a spaced-apart relation to the column surface, and wherein the vertical plate, the top gusset, the bottom gusset, and the column face plate in combination define a column face plate assembly.

6. The sidewalk shed of claim 5 wherein the column is a one of at least four columns and the major beam is a one of at least four major beams, and wherein each of the at least four columns includes at least two face plate assemblies attached to each column proximal to the column top end, wherein each of the at least four columns is releasably attachable to two of the major beams and wherein each of the at least four major beams is releasably attachable to two of the columns.

7. The sidewalk shed of claim 6 wherein when four of the major beams releasably connect four columns with each of the four major beams connected to two of the four columns, the four columns and the four major beams that are connected in combination define a rectangular frame, the rectangular frame having a longitudinal direction corresponding to a sidewalk direction and a transverse direction normal to the sidewalk direction, and wherein two of the four major beams are parallel major beams that extend parallel to the sidewalk direction, and two of the major beams are transverse major beams that extend in the transverse direction.

8. The sidewalk shed of claim 6 wherein the sidewalk shed defines four corners and wherein a one of the at least four columns is disposed at each of the four corners, each of the four columns disposed at the four corners having at least two column face plate assemblies attached to the column, wherein two of the at least two column face plate assemblies attached to each column at each corner are mutually oriented at a right angle.

9. The sidewalk shed of claim 8, a) wherein the at least four columns comprise at least six columns and the at least four major beams comprise at least seven major beams, b) wherein when the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate of each of the major beams are releasably attached to two of the columns, with each of the seven major beams releasably attached to two of the six columns, the seven major beams and the six columns in combination define two conjoined rectangular frames with each of the two conjoined rectangular frames sharing a one of the seven major beams, and c) wherein two of the six columns are disposed intermediate to two of the four corners, the two columns that are disposed intermediate to two of the four corners each including at least three column face plate assemblies.

10. The sidewalk shed of claim 9 wherein the sidewalk shed is configured to turn a sidewalk corner, the sidewalk shed further comprising: a) the at least six columns comprising eight columns, the at least seven major beams comprising ten major beams, and the four corners comprising five corners; b) wherein a one of the eight columns is an inside corner column corresponding to the sidewalk corner, the inside corner column having four face plate assemblies attached and radially arrayed about the longitudinal axis of the inside corner column so that the inside corner column is releasably attachable to four other of the columns by four major beams; c) wherein when the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate of each of the ten major beams are releasably attachable to two of the corresponding column face plates of the eight columns with four of the ten major beams attached to the corner column, the eight columns and ten major beams in combination define three of the conjoined rectangular frames with the inside corner column disposed at the sidewalk corner and the three conjoined rectangular sidewalk shed frames disposed about the sidewalk corner when the sidewalk frame is located at the sidewalk corner.

11. The sidewalk shed of claim 7, further comprising: a) a plurality of minor beams, each of the minor beams extending transverse to the sidewalk direction and spanning the parallel major beams; b) a plurality of minor beam support brackets attached to a parallel major beam top side, each of the plurality of minor beam support brackets corresponding to a one of the plurality of minor beams, each of the plurality of minor beams being releasably attachable to the parallel major beams at the corresponding minor beam support bracket.

12. The sidewalk shed of claim 11, further comprising: a parapet and a parapet support bracket, the parapet and the parapet support bracket being releasably attachable to the minor beams.

13. The sidewalk shed of claim 12, further comprising: a decking, the decking the decking being supported by the plurality of minor beams when the decking is placed upon the minor beams.

14. The sidewalk shed of claim 1, further comprising: a column foot, the column foot being adjustably attached to the column at the column base and having a configuration to adjust a height of the column, the configuration of the column foot to adjust the height of the column comprising a plurality of holes defines by the column base and a corresponding plurality of holes defined by the column foot, a foot fastener being configured to penetrate a one of the column holes and a one of the foot holes to select the height of the column, alternatively the configuration of the column foot to adjust the height of the column comprising a threaded engagement between the column foot and the column so that relative rotation of the column foot and the column selects the height of the column.

15. The sidewalk shed of claim 6 wherein the sidewalk shed does not include a cross brace between any of the columns, between any of the major beams, and between any of the columns and any of the major beams.

16. The sidewalk shed of claim 6 wherein at least two of the columns include one or more face plate assemblies attached at different locations along the longitudinal axis of the columns, whereby at least one of the major beams may be attached to the at least two columns at a different height than another of the major beams.

17. A sidewalk shed, the sidewalk shed comprising: a) a column, the column having a column base and a column top, the column defining a column longitudinal axis between the column base and the column top, the column having a column outer surface, the column outer surface defining a column width normal to the column longitudinal axis; b) a column face plate, the column face plate being supported by the column in a spaced apart relation to the column outer surface proximal to the column top, the column face plate being planar and defining a column face plate top end and an opposing column face plate bottom end, the column face plate having a column face plate longitudinal axis between the column face plate top end and the column face plate bottom end, the column face plate longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to the column longitudinal axis, the column face plate having a column face plate transverse axis, the column face plate transverse axis and the column longitudinal axis defining skew lines, the skew angle between the skew lines being substantially a right angle, the column face plate having a width along the column face plate transverse axis, the column face plate width being greater than the column width; c) a major beam, the major beam being elongated and having a major beam first end and an opposing major beam second end, the major beam defining a major beam longitudinal axis between the major beam first end and the major beam second end, the major beam having a major beam height and a major beam width; d) a first major beam face plate and a second major beam face plate, the first major beam face plate being attached to the major beam at the major beam first end, the second major beam face plate being attached to the major beam at the major beam second end, the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate each being planar, the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate are substantially normal to the major beam longitudinal axis, the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate each having a major beam face plate length and a major beam face plate width, the major beam face plate length corresponding to the column face plate length and being greater than the major beam height, the major beam face plate width corresponding to the column face plate width and being greater than the major beam width, the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate each having a configuration for interchangeable and releasable attachment to the column face plate, the major beam longitudinal axis being substantially normal to the column longitudinal axis when the first major beam face plate or the second major beam face plate is releasably attached to the column face plate.

18. The sidewalk shed of claim 17, further comprising: a) a top gusset, the top gusset being planar and trapezoidal in shape, the top gusset having a top gusset narrow end with a top gusset narrow end width, the top gusset narrow end width corresponding to the column width, the top gusset narrow end being attached to the column surface, the top gusset having a top gusset wide end having a top gusset wide end width, the top gusset wide end width corresponding to the column face plate width, the top gusset wide end being attached to the column face plate top end, the top gusset wide end width being greater than the top gusset narrow end width; b) a bottom gusset, the bottom gusset being planar and trapezoidal in shape, the bottom gusset having a bottom gusset narrow end having a bottom gusset narrow end width, the bottom gusset narrow end width corresponding to the column width, the bottom gusset narrow end being attached to the column surface, the bottom gusset having a bottom gusset wide end having a bottom gusset wide end width, the bottom gusset wide end width corresponding to the column face plate width, the bottom gusset wide end being attached to the column face plate bottom end, the bottom gusset wide end width being greater than the bottom gusset narrow end width; c) a vertical plate having a first vertical plate edge and an opposing second vertical plate edge, the first vertical plate edge being aligned with the column longitudinal axis and attached to the column surface, the second vertical plate edge being aligned with the column face plate longitudinal axis and attached to the column face plate, the vertical plate being disposed between and attached to the top gusset and the bottom gusset, wherein the vertical plate, the top gusset and the bottom gusset in combination support the column face plate in a spaced-apart relation to the column surface, and wherein the vertical plate, the top gusset, the bottom gusset, and the column face plate in combination define a column face plate assembly.

19. The sidewalk shed of claim 18 wherein the column is a one of four columns and the major beam is a one of four major beams, and wherein each of the four columns includes at least two face plate assemblies attached to each column proximal to the column top end, wherein the first major beam face plate and the second major beam face plate of each of the at least four major beams is releasably attachable to any one of the at least two face plate assemblies of any one on of the four two-face plate columns, wherein each of the four columns is releasably attachable to two of the major beams and wherein each of the four major beams is releasably attachable to two of the columns, the four columns and the four major beams that are connected in combination define a rectangular frame, the rectangular frame having a longitudinal direction corresponding to a sidewalk direction and a transverse direction normal to the sidewalk direction, and wherein two of the four major beams are parallel major beams that extend parallel to the sidewalk direction, and two of the major beams are transverse major beams that extend in the transverse direction.

20. The sidewalk shed of claim 19, further comprising: a) a plurality of minor beams, each of the minor beams extending transverse to the sidewalk direction and spanning the parallel major beams; b) a plurality of minor beam support brackets attached to a parallel major beam top side, each of the plurality of minor beam support brackets corresponding to a one of the plurality of minor beams, each of the plurality of minor beams being releasably attachable to the parallel major beams at the corresponding minor beam support bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an example sidewalk shed of the Invention without decking or parapets.

[0027] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of four major beams and four columns comprising a rectangular frame of the sidewalk shed system.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a column.

[0029] FIG. 4 is an exploded detail view of a column and major beam attachment.

[0030] FIG. 5 is an plan view of a column face plate or a major beam face plate.

[0031] FIG. 6 is top or bottom view of a column face plate and top or bottom gusset combination.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a column face plate assembly.

[0033] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a major beam.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a section view through section line A-A of FIG. 11 showing a column with three column face plate assemblies attached to three major beams.

[0035] FIG. 10 is a section view through section B-B of FIG. 9 showing the column, major beam face plate and major beam.

[0036] FIG. 11 is a section view through section lint C-C of FIG. 9.

[0037] FIG. 12 is a side view of the sidewalk shed of FIG. 2 normal to the sidewalk longitudinal axis.

[0038] FIG. 13 is a side view of the sidewalk shed of FIGS. 2 and 12 viewed along the sidewalk longitudinal axis.

[0039] FIG. 14 is top view of the sidewalk shed of FIGS. 2, 12 and 13.

[0040] FIG. 15 is an isometric detail view of a column and major beams supporting minor beams.

[0041] FIG. 16 is an exploded view of FIG. 14.

[0042] FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the sidewalk shed of FIG. 2 having an attached parapet.

[0043] FIG. 18 is a side view of the sidewalk shed of FIG. 2 with an attached parapet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0044] FIGS. 1 and 2 are isometric views of example sidewalk shed systems 2 of the Invention. FIG. 1 shows the sidewalk shed system 2 installed and covering a sidewalk 4. The sidewalk shed 2 of FIG. 1 extends along the sidewalk longitudinal axis 6, turns a sidewalk corner 8, and features columns 14 of different elevations 10 to accommodate, for example, a building facade. FIG. 2 shows a rectangular frame 12 comprising four columns 14 and four major beams 16, with each column 14 releasably attached to two major beams 16 and each major beam 16 releasably attached to two columns 14. The rectangular frame 12 supports a plurality of minor beams 18. The minor beams 18 support decking (not shown) and other systems such as lighting (not shown) and parapets 20 (see the discussion of FIGS. 17 and 18).

[0045] The sidewalk shed system 2 is modular and flexible and, as shown by FIG. 1, each rectangular frame 12 may be conjoined with other rectangular frames 12 by adding additional columns 14, major beams 16 and minor beams 18 to extend the sidewalk shed system 2 longitudinally or laterally or to extend the sidewalk shed system 2 around a sidewalk corner 8, all to create the rectangular grid that is the sidewalk shed. Also as shown by FIG. 1, the sidewalk shed system 2 may use pairs of major beams 16 of different lengths to conform the sidewalk shed system 2 to site conditions. From FIG. 1, the sidewalk shed system 2 may utilize stub major beams 22 that attach to only one column 14 and are cantilevered from an end of the sidewalk shed system 2.

[0046] From FIG. 2, each rectangular frame 12 includes four columns 14, each having a column top end 24, a column bottom end 26 and column sides 28. Each column 14 has a column longitudinal axis 30 that is vertically disposed when the column 14 is installed in a sidewalk shed. Each column 14 of FIG. 2 is attached to two major beams 16 that are horizontally disposed. Two of the major beams 16 of the rectangular frame 12 of FIG. 2 are parallel major beams 32 that are oriented parallel to the sidewalk longitudinal axis 6. Two of the major beams 16 are transverse major beams 34 that are disposed normal to the sidewalk longitudinal axis 6. Minor beams 18 span the parallel major beams 32. The parallel major beams 32 may include minor beam support brackets 36 to receive and retain the minor beams 18. The minor beams 18 support decking, not shown.

[0047] FIGS. 3-11 illustrate a column 14 and major beam 16 and the releasable connection between the columns 14 and major beams 16. FIG. 3 shows an example column 14 in isolation having three column face plates 38 disposed at the column top end 24. The three column face plates 38 may be bolted to corresponding major beam face plates 44, thereby attaching the major beams 16 and the columns 14 together to define the sidewalk shed system 2. Each column 14 may include between one and four column face plates 38 attached at the column top end 24, depending on the application of the column 14. As shown by FIG. 1, column face plates 38 may be attached to the column 14 at locations other than the column top 24 to allow the sidewalk shed system 2 to accommodate a building facade or other obstacles.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a detail exploded view of the column top end 24 of FIG. 3 showing the three column face plates 38 and the attachment of one major beam 16. As shown by FIG. 4, each column 14 has a column width 40 and a column surface 42. Each column face plate 38 is in a spaced apart relation to the column surface 42 to which the column face plate 38 is attached. FIG. 4 also shows the connection of a column face plate 38 to a corresponding major beam face plate 44 by fasteners, such as bolts and nuts 46, penetrating corresponding holes 48 in the column face plate 38 and the major beam face plate 44.

[0049] FIGS. 5 through 7 show the construction of the column face plate assembly 50 separate from the column 14. The column face plate assembly 50 is attached to the column 14 and supports the column face plate 38 in a spaced-apart relation to the column surface 42. The column face plate assembly 50, shown by FIG. 7, comprises the column face plate 38, a top gusset 52, a bottom gusset 54, and a vertical plate 56.

[0050] From FIG. 5, the column face plate 38 is planar and composed of a robust material, such as steel. The column face plate 38 has a column face plate top end 58 and a column face plate bottom end 60. A column face plate longitudinal axis 62 extends centrally between the column face plate top end 58 and the column face plate bottom end 60. The column face 38 plate defines a column face plate length 66 along the column face plate longitudinal axis 62 and a column face plate width 68 normal to the column face plate longitudinal axis 62. The column face plate length 66 is greater than the column face plate width 68. The column face plate width 68 is greater than the column width 40 (see FIG. 4) at the location to which the column face plate assembly 50 is attached. At least two and preferably four or more holes 48 penetrate the column face plate 38 in a spaced apart relation, with pairs of the holes 48 disposed on opposing sides of the column face plate longitudinal axis 62.

[0051] The column face plate longitudinal axis 62 may be parallel to the column longitudinal axis 30, so that the column face plate 38 is vertically-oriented. Alternatively, the column face plate longitudinal axis 62 may intersect the corresponding column longitudinal axis 30 so that the column face plate defines an angle with respect to the column 14 at the location where the column face plate assembly 50 attaches to the column 14, in which event the column face plate 38 is not vertically-oriented and is instead sloped with respect to the column 14.

[0052] From FIG. 7, the column face plate 38, top gusset 52, bottom gusset 54, and vertical plate 56 in combination define a column face plate assembly 50. In the column face plate assembly 50, the top gusset 52 is attached to the column face plate top end 58 and the bottom gusset 54 is attached to the column face plate bottom end 60. From FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the top gusset 52 and the bottom gusset 54 has a gusset wide end 70 and a gusset narrow end 72 and is trapezoidal in shape. The gusset wide end width 74 of each of the top gusset 52 and the bottom gusset 54 corresponds to the column face plate width 68. The gusset narrow end width 76 of each of the top gusset 52 and the bottom gusset 54 corresponds to the column width 40 at the location on the column 14 where the column face plate assembly 50 is attached to the column 14. The gusset wide end 70 of the top gusset 52 is attached to the column face plate top end 58. The gusset wide end 70 of the bottom gusset 54is attached to the column face plate bottom end 60.

[0053] From FIG. 7, the vertical plate 56 is disposed on the back side of the column face plate 38 parallel to the column face plate longitudinal axis 62 and attached to the column face plate 38 and to the top gusset 52 and bottom gusset 54. The narrow ends 72 of both the top gusset 52 and the bottom gusset 54 and the vertical plate 56 all are attached to the column surface 42. The column 14, vertical plate 56, top and bottom gussets 52 and 54, and face plate 38 may be composed of steel and the entire column face plate assembly 50 may be joined by welding.

[0054] The column face plate transverse axis 64 shown by FIG. 5 and the column longitudinal axis 30 shown by FIG. 3 define mathematical skew lines and a skew angle, as described above and as those terms are used in geometry. The skew angle of the face plate transverse axis 64 and the column longitudinal axis 30 is substantially ninety degrees.

[0055] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a major beam 16, in this instance a parallel major beam 32. The major beam 16 is shown in the form of an I-beam, but any other suitable configuration may be used, such as hollow structural sections (HSS). Major beam face plates 44 are attached to the opposing major beam first end 78 and major beam second end 80, as by welding. A major beam longitudinal axis 82 extends between the major beam first end 78 and the major beam second end 80. The major beam 16 has a height 84 and a width 86. The major beam height 84 and width 86 are both less than the major beam face plate width 68 and length 66. The major beam face plates have holes 48 that align with the holes 48 in the column face plates 38. The length 66 and width 68 of the major beam face plates 44 also match the length 66 and width 68 of the column face plates 38. The minor beam support brackets 36 shown on FIG. 8 are specific to a parallel major beam 32, so that the minor beams 18 attached to the minor beam support brackets 32 will be normal to the sidewalk longitudinal axis 6. A transverse major beam 34 is similar to the parallel major beam 32 of FIG. 8, except that the transverse major beam 34 lacks the minor beam support brackets 36.

[0056] FIGS. 9 through 11 are section views illustrating the attachment of a column 14 to the major beams 16 using column face plates 38 and major beam face plates 44. FIG. 9 is a sectional view through section line A-A of FIG. 11. FIG. 10 is a section view through section lines B-B of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a section view through section lines C-C of FIG. 9. Each of FIGS. 9 through 11 show column face plates 38 attached by bolts 46 to corresponding major beam face plates 44. The top gusset 52, bottom gusset 54 and vertical plate 56 provide a robust and distributed attachment of the column face plate 38 to the column surface 42. The use of the column and major beam face plates 38, 44 allows the bolt holes 48 to be spaced laterally further apart than would be possible without the column and major beam face plates 38, 44. The robust connection of the column face plates 38 to the column 14, combined with the relatively large face plates 38, 44 and the spaced-apart bolt 46 connections, provide robust resistance to torsional forces acting on the column-14-to-major-beam-16 connections that otherwise could result in the collapse of the sidewalk shed. As shown by FIG. 9, the spaced-apart relation of the column face plate 38 and the column surface 42, combined with the spaced-apart relation of opposing pairs of holes 48 penetrating the column face plates 38 and major beam face plates 44, also provides access to both sides of the face plates 38, 44 to install nuts and bolts 46. This ease of access and hence of construction and deconstruction is important to the sidewalk shed industry and a benefit of the system of the Invention.

[0057] FIGS. 12 through 14 are additional views of the rectangular frame 12 of FIG. 2. FIG. 12 is a side view of the rectangular frame 12 normal to the sidewalk longitudinal axis 6, showing the columns 14, column face plate assemblies 50, a parallel major beam 32 and the ends of minor beams 18. FIG. 13 is an end view of the rectangular frame 12 along the sidewalk longitudinal axis 6 showing two columns 14, a transverse major beam 34, a minor beam 18 supported by the parallel major beams 32. FIG. 14 is a plan view of the rectangular frame 12 showing the column tops 24 of four columns 14, two parallel major beams 32, two transverse major beams 34, the minor beams 18 supported by the parallel major beams 32, and the minor beam brackets 36 to which the minor beams 18 are attached.

[0058] FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate attachment of the minor beams 18 to the parallel major beams 32. As shown by FIGS. 15 and 16, the parallel major beams 32 support minor beam brackets 36. The minor beam brackets 36 provide an attachment point for the minor beams 18 and also remind the installer to correctly space the minor beams 18 on the parallel major beams 32.

[0059] From FIGS. 15 and 16, the minor beams 18 may be fixed in a plurality of locations normal to the sidewalk longitudinal axis 6. A plurality of engagement features 88, such as clips or engagement holes, may be disposed on the minor beam 18 and configured to engage a minor beam support bracket 36. The plurality of engagement features 88 allows the minor beam 88 to be fixed, as by a bolt, at any of a plurality of locations with respect to the sidewalk longitudinal axis 6. Alternatively, the minor beams 18 may be of different lengths. The length of the minor beam 18 or the positions of adjustable minor beams 18 may be selected to clear a building facade, to provide additional coverage for a sidewalk 4, to avoid road furniture, or to provide consistent parapet 20 anchoring locations.

[0060] The minor beams 18 may support decking, as is known in the art. Although not shown, decking may be composed of wooden planks. Alternatively, the decking may comprise a metal lattice to allow light to penetrate the deck to the sidewalk below. Metal lattice decking may be covered by transparent plates, such as plates of acrylic or polycarbonate, to block water and small objects from falling through the metal lattice to the sidewalk below. The sidewalk shed may be wired for electrical power and may including artificial lighting.

[0061] As shown by FIGS. 2, 3 and 12, the column bottoms may include adjustable column bases 90, which are useful for adjusting the height of the column 14 to conform to irregularities in the sidewalk 4. From FIG. 2, the column base 90 may telescope into the hollow column bottom 26. Rows of height adjustment holes penetrate the column bottom 26 and one or more corresponding holes penetrate the base 90. An operator will select the height of the column by inserting height-fixing bolts through the height-adjustment holes corresponding to the selected height.

[0062] Alternatively, and as shown by FIG. 1, height adjustment for column may comprising a threaded engagement between the column base 90 and the column bottom 26. A threaded rod attached to the column base 90 and aligned with the column longitudinal axis 30 is in threaded engagement with a female thread attached to the column bottom 26. Turning the column base 90 with respect to the column bottom 26 either shortens or lengthens column 14 to conform the column to the sidewalk 4. A column bottom 26 may include both a telescoping column base 90 and a threaded rod so that the height of the column 14 may be coarsely adjusted using the telescoping attachment and finely adjusted using the threaded rod.

[0063] FIGS. 17 and 18 show a parapet 20. The parapet 20 is a vertical barrier that traps objects on the decking and prevents those objects from falling to the sidewalk 4 or street below. The parapets 20 also hides objects on the decking and provide locations for signage. FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the sidewalk shed system 2 of FIG. 2 with a parapet 20 disposed at the end of the minor beams 18. FIG. 18 is an end view of the sidewalk shed system 2 of FIG. 13 with the parapet 20 attached.

[0064] As shown by FIG. 17, a first end of the angle bracket 92 may be attached to the minor beam 18 and a second end of the angle bracket 92 may be attached to the parapet 20. The parapet 20 may include a minor beam 18 engaging member that slidably engages the end of the hollow minor beam 18. Alternatively, the parapet 20 may be bolted to the minor beam 18 so that the parapet 20, angle bracket 92 and minor beam 18 define a triangle.

[0065] The sidewalk shed system 2 may define more than one elevation, as where a portion of the sidewalk shed system 2 must be higher to accommodates a large entrance door in the building or to clear a store facade. The sidewalk shed of the Invention can accommodate more than one elevation by providing columns 10 (see FIG. 1) that have column face plates 38 attached to the column sides 42 at more than one location along the longitudinal axis 30 of the column 14. For example, a column 10 may include a first set of face plates 38 attached to the column sides at twenty feet above the ground and may have a second set of column face plates 38 attached at ten feet above the ground. The column face plates 38 then could support major beams 16 at both the ten feet elevation and the twenty feet elevation.

[0066] In this document, an element appearing on a drawing has the same meaning when the element appears on another drawing unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0067] The following is a list of numbered elements from the specification and drawings. [0068] A sidewalk shed system 2 [0069] A sidewalk 4 [0070] A sidewalk longitudinal axis 6 [0071] A sidewalk corner 8 [0072] Different elevations 10 [0073] A rectangular frame 12 [0074] A column 14 [0075] A major beam 16 [0076] A minor beam 18 [0077] A parapet 20 [0078] A stub major beam 22 [0079] A column top end 24 [0080] A column bottom end 26 [0081] A column side 28 [0082] A column longitudinal axis 30 [0083] A parallel major beam 32 [0084] A transverse major beam 34 [0085] A minor beam support bracket 36 [0086] A column face plate 38 [0087] A column width 40 [0088] A column surface 42 [0089] A major beam face plate 44 [0090] A bolt 46 [0091] A hole 48 [0092] A column face plate assembly 50 [0093] A top gusset 52 [0094] A bottom gusset 54 [0095] A vertical plate 56 [0096] A column face plate top end 58 [0097] A column face plate bottom end 60 [0098] A column face plate longitudinal axis 62 [0099] A column face plate transverse axis 64 [0100] A column face plate length 66 [0101] A column face plate width 68 [0102] A gusset wide end 70 [0103] A gusset narrow end 72 [0104] A gusset wide end width 74 [0105] A gusset narrow end width 76 [0106] A major beam first end 78 [0107] A major beam second end 80 [0108] A major beam longitudinal axis 82 [0109] A major beam height 84 [0110] A major beam width 86 [0111] A minor beam engagement feature 88 [0112] An adjustable column base 90 [0113] An angle bracket 92