Connection assembly for a modular footbridge

Abstract

A connection assembly for a modular footbridge having two or more bridge segments, the connection assembly comprising a first connector member and a second connector member, wherein one segment of the modular footbridge is provided with the first connector member and is connectable to another adjacently disposed segment having the second connector member by connecting the first connector member to the second connector member.

1 . A modular footbridge, comprising:
 two or more bridge segments, each of the bridge segments having at least a portion of one or more connector assemblies connected thereto for engaging two of the two or more bridge segments, each connector assembly comprising:
 a first connector member and a second connector member, each connector member comprising:
 a connector body having at least one connector arm extending from the connector body; and 
 at least one spacer separating the at least one connector arm and the connector body from the bridge segments; and 
 
 wherein one bridge segment is provided with the first connector member and is connectable to another adjacently disposed bridge segment having the second connector member by connecting the first connector member to the second connector member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular footbridge of  claim 1 , wherein the connector arm comprises a spacer interface portion having a plurality of spacer guides defining spacer grooves and the spacers comprise a connector interface surface comprising a plurality of connector guides defining connector grooves, wherein the spacers are secured to the connector arms via mating the plurality of spacer guides defining spacer grooves of the connector arms with the plurality of connector guides defining connector grooves of the spacers. 
     
     
         3 . The modular footbridge of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers are constructed of different material than the first and second connector members. 
     
     
         4 . The modular footbridge of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector arm and the connector bodies each comprise a width and wherein the width of the at least one connector arm is greater than the width of the connector bodies such that two connector bodies may mate together when the connector bodies are in face-to-face relation. 
     
     
         5 . The modular footbridge of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers are constructed of a nonreactive material. 
     
     
         6 . The modular footbridge of  claim 5 , wherein the nonreactive material of the spacers are selected from the group consisting of: fiberglass, carbon fiber, fiber reinforced polymers, carbon-fiber reinforced plastics, glass reinforced plastics, ceramic matrix or short and long fiber reinforced plastics. 
     
     
         7 . The modular footbridge of  claim 1 , wherein the connector arms of the connector members comprise terminal ends and the spacers comprise terminal ends and when a connector member and a spacer are connected together, the terminal end of the spacer extends further than the terminal end of the connector member. 
     
     
         8 . The modular footbridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more stiffener straps selectively connected to at least two of the two or more bridge segments to at least partially support the footbridge when the bridge segments are substantially secured together.   
     
     
         9 . The modular footbridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 two or more anchor members each engaging one of the bridge segments; and,   one or more stiffener straps selectively connected to at least two of the two or more anchor members to at least partially support the footbridge when the bridge segments are substantially secured together.   
     
     
         10 . The modular footbridge of  claim 9 , wherein the two or more anchor members comprise four anchor members, the one or more stiffener straps comprise two stiffener straps, and wherein a first of the two stiffener straps is selectively connected to a first and second of the four anchor members and the second of the two stiffener straps is selectively connected to a third and fourth of the four anchor members. 
     
     
         11 . The modular footbridge of  claim 10 , wherein the two or more bridge segments each have first and second lateral sides, and wherein the anchor members engage the bridge segments and the stiffener straps are selectively connected to the anchor members such that each of the stiffener straps extends between the first and second lateral sides of the bridge segments. 
     
     
         12 . The modular footbridge of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more bridge segments comprises two end bridge segments and two medial bridge segments disposed between the two end bridge segments, and wherein the one or more connection assemblies comprises six connection assemblies. 
     
     
         13 . The modular footbridge of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 two or more anchor members each engaging one of the bridge segments; and, one or more stiffener straps selectively connected to at least two of the two or more anchor members to at least partially support the footbridge when the bridge segments are substantially secured together.   
     
     
         14 . The modular footbridge of  claim 13 , wherein the two or more anchor members comprise four anchor members, the one or more stiffener straps comprise two stiffener straps, and wherein a first of the two stiffener straps is selectively connected to a first and second of the four anchor members and the second of the two stiffener straps is selectively connected to a third and fourth of the four anchor members. 
     
     
         15 . The modular footbridge of  claim 14 , wherein the first and third anchor members engage a first one of the two end bridge segments, and wherein the second and fourth anchor members engage the other of the two end bridge segments. 
     
     
         16 . The modular footbridge of  claim 15 , wherein the end and medial bridge segments each have first and second lateral sides, and wherein the anchor members engage the end bridge segments and the stiffener straps are selectively connected to the anchor members such that each of the stiffener straps extends between the first and second lateral sides of the end bridge segments. 
     
     
         17 . The modular footbridge of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge segments each have two or more longitudinal members in spaced-apart relation, and a plurality of horizontal members extending between at least two of the two or more longitudinal members 
     
     
         18 . The modular footbridge of  claim 17 , wherein the bridge segments each have an upper side and a lower side and wherein the upper side of each bridge segment further includes a walking surface at least partially supported by one or more of the longitudinal members and the horizontal members. 
     
     
         19 . A connection assembly for connecting two or more bridge segments of a modular footbridge, the connection assembly comprising:
 a first connector member and a second connector member, each connector member comprising:
 a connector body having two connector arms extending from the connector body; and 
 a spacer connected to each of the two connector arms separating the two connector arms and the connector body from the bridge segment; and 
   wherein one bridge segment is provided with the first connector member and is connectable to another adjacently disposed bridge segment having the second connector member by connecting the first connector member to the second connector member.   
     
     
         20 . The connection assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the connector arms comprise a spacer interface portion having a plurality of spacer guides defining spacer grooves and the spacers comprise a connector interface surface comprising a plurality of connector guides defining connector grooves, wherein the spacers are secured to the connector arms via mating the plurality of spacer guides defining spacer grooves of the connector arms with the plurality of connector guides defining connector grooves of the spacers. 
     
     
         21 . The connection assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the spacers are constructed of different material than the first and second connector members. 
     
     
         22 . The connection assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one connector arm and the connector bodies each comprise a width and wherein the width of the at least one connector arm is greater than the width of the connector bodies such that two connector bodies may mate together when the connector bodies are in face-to-face relation. 
     
     
         23 . The connection assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the spacers are constructed of a nonreactive material. 
     
     
         24 . The connection assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the nonreactive material of the spacers are selected from the group consisting of: fiberglass, carbon fiber, fiber reinforced polymers, carbon-fiber reinforced plastics, glass reinforced plastics, ceramic matrix or short and long fiber reinforced plastics. 
     
     
         25 . The connection assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the connector arms of the connector members comprise terminal ends and the spacers comprise terminal ends and when a connector member and a spacer are connected together, the terminal end of the spacer extends further than the terminal end of the connector member. 
     
     
         26 . The modular footbridge of  claim 19 , wherein the bridge segments each have two or more longitudinal members in spaced-apart relation, each of the two or more longitudinal members are configured to receive at least a portion of the connection assembly therein. 
     
     
         27 . A modular footbridge, comprising:
 two or more bridge segments, each of the bridge segments having two or more longitudinal members in spaced-apart relation, each of the two or more longitudinal members are configured to receive at least a portion of a connection assembly therein for engaging two of the two or more bridge segments, each connector assembly comprising:   a first connector member and a second connector member, each connector member comprising:
 a connector body having two connector arms extending from the connector body; and 
 a spacer connected to each of the two connector arms, the spacer separating the two connector arms and the connector body from the bridge segments to reduce corrosion therebetween; 
   wherein the spacers connected to the two connector arms of the first connector member are disposed within the longitudinal member of one bridge segment and the spacers connected to the two connector arms of the second connector member are disposed within the longitudinal member of an adjacent bridge segment such that the bridge segments are connected together by aligning the first connector member with the second connector member and securing them together.