Adjustable joist for suspended access platform

Abstract

A joist assembly includes a first joist portion comprising at least one joist opening. The joist assembly includes a second joist portion disposed opposite the first joist portion. The joist assembly includes a connector comprising an extension member and a plurality of connector openings. The extension member extends between the first joist portion and the second joist portion. A first connector opening of the plurality of connector openings configured to align with a first joist opening of the at least one joist opening with the joist assembly at a first length. A second connector opening of the plurality of connector openings configured to align with at least one of the first joist opening or a second joist opening of the at least one joist opening with the joist assembly at a second length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A joist assembly, comprising:
 a first joist portion comprising at least one joist opening;   a second joist portion disposed opposite the first joist portion; and   a connector comprising an extension member and a plurality of connector openings, the extension member extending between the first joist portion and the second joist portion;   a first connector opening of the plurality of connector openings configured to align with a first joist opening of the at least one joist opening with the joist assembly at a first length; and   a second connector opening of the plurality of connector openings configured to align with at least one of the first joist opening or a second joist opening of the at least one joist opening with the joist assembly at a second length.   
     
     
         2 . The joist assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first joist portion comprises a first channel member;   the second joist portion comprises a second channel member; and   the connector comprises a main body, the extension member coupled with the connecter at a center of the extension member, the main body dividing the extension member into a first side and a second side, the first side at least partially disposed in the first channel member and the second side at least partially disposed in the second channel member.   
     
     
         3 . The joist assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first joist portion comprises:
 an upper member;   a lower member disposed apart from the upper member to define a space between the upper member and the lower member; and   a channel member extending from at least one of the upper member or the lower member, the channel member extending into the space between the upper member and the lower member;   wherein a portion of the extension member extends into the channel member and is configured to move relative to the channel member to adjust a length of the joist assembly between the first length and the second length.   
     
     
         4 . The joist assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connector further comprises:
 a main member coupled with the extension member;   a locking assembly rotatably coupled with the main member at a pivot point, the locking assembly comprising the plurality of connector openings;
 the locking assembly configured to be oriented in a first position with a first connector opening of the plurality of connector openings aligned with the at least one joist opening with the joist assembly at the first length; and 
 the locking assembly configured to be oriented in a second position with a second connector opening of the plurality of connector openings aligned with the at least one joist opening with the joist assembly at the second length; and 
   a locking device to extend through the at least one joist opening and an aligned connector opening to prevent movement of the connector relative to the first joist portion.   
     
     
         5 . The joist assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first joist portion comprises a first joist opening;   the second joist portion comprises a second joist opening; and   the connector comprises a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprising the plurality of connector openings.   
     
     
         6 . The joist assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 when the joist assembly is configured to be the first length:
 a first connector opening of the plurality of connector openings is aligned with the first joist opening; and 
 a second connector opening of the plurality of connector openings is aligned with the second joist opening; and 
   wherein when the joist assembly is configured to be the second length:
 a third connector opening of the plurality of connector openings is aligned with the first joist opening; and 
 a fourth connector opening of the plurality of connector openings is aligned with the second joist opening. 
   
     
     
         7 . The joist assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first joist portion comprises:
 an upper member; 
 a lower member disposed apart from the upper member; and 
 a brace member extending between the upper member and the lower member, the brace member comprising the at least one joist opening. 
   
     
     
         8 . The joist assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the connector comprises a locking mechanism comprising the plurality of connector openings, the locking mechanism to rotate to selectively align a connector opening of the plurality of connector openings with the at least one joist opening, a length of the joist assembly based, at least partially, on the connector opening aligned with the at least one joist opening. 
     
     
         9 . The joist assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first joist portion comprises:
 an upper member comprising an upper channel member; 
 a lower member disposed apart from the upper member to define a space between the upper member and the lower member, the lower member comprising a lower channel member, the upper channel member and the lower channel member extending into the space between the upper member and the lower member; and 
   the connector comprises a first extension member and a second extension member, the first extension member being the extension member, the first extension member disposed partially in the upper channel member and the second extension member disposed partially in the lower channel member.   
     
     
         10 . The joist assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first joist portion comprises a first channel member;   the second joist portion comprises a second channel member disposed opposite the first channel member; and   the extension member configured to be disposed in both the first channel member and the second channel member.   
     
     
         11 . An adjustable-length joist assembly, comprising:
 a first joist portion;   a second joist portion;   a connector coupled with the first joist portion and the second joist portion such that the first joist portion and the second joist portion are each slidably engaged with the connector; and   a locking assembly rotatably coupled with the connector and comprising a plurality of connector openings configured to align with a corresponding joist opening on each of the first joist portion and the second joist portion.   
     
     
         12 . The adjustable-length joist assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the locking assembly is configured to be oriented in a first position with a first connector opening of the plurality of connector openings aligned with at least one of the joist openings when the adjustable-length joist assembly is configured to be a first length. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable-length joist assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the locking assembly is configured to be oriented in a second position with a second connector opening of the plurality of connector openings aligned with at least one of the joist openings when the adjustable-length joist assembly is configured to be a second length. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable-length joist assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a locking device to extend through at least one joist opening and an aligned connector opening to prevent movement of the connector relative to the first joist portion. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable-length joist assembly of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first joist portion or the second joist portion comprises an indicia opening configured to slide over a portion of the connector comprising a scale indicative of a length. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable-length joist assembly of  claim 15 , wherein when the adjustable-length joist assembly is configured to be a first length a first indicia of the scale indicative of the first length is readable through the indicia opening, and wherein when the adjustable-length joist assembly is configured to be a second length a second indicia of the scale indicative of the second length is readable through the indicia opening. 
     
     
         17 . A support structure, comprising:
 a hub;   an adjustable-length joist assembly configured to couple to the hub, wherein the adjustable-length joist assembly comprises:
 a first joist portion; 
 a second joist portion; and 
 a connector coupled with the first joist portion and the second joist portion such that the first joist portion and the second joist portion are each slidably engaged with the connector. 
   
     
     
         18 . The support structure of  claim 17 , wherein the adjustable-length joist assembly further comprises a locking assembly rotatably coupled with the connector and comprising a plurality of connector openings configured to align with a corresponding joist opening on each of the first joist portion and the second joist portion. 
     
     
         19 . The support structure of  claim 17 , wherein the adjustable-length joist assembly comprises a first adjustable-length joist assembly, and further comprising a second adjustable-length joist assembly configured to couple to the hub. 
     
     
         20 . The support structure of  claim 19 , further comprising a platform to be supported by the first adjustable-length joist assembly and the second adjustable-length joist assembly.