Supporting framework

Abstract

A supporting framework having at least one suspension device for a diagonal cross brace that reinforces the supporting framework, wherein the suspension device has receiving fingers for openings provided on the ends of the diagonal cross brace, characterized in that two first receiving fingers of the suspension device each have a bent end portion, and second receiving fingers situated opposite from the first receiving fingers have a pivotable end portion.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of assembling a supporting framework, the supporting framework including a first frame having a first side tube and a second side tube connected by at least one transverse tube, a second frame having a third side tube and a fourth side tube, two first receiving fingers, and two second receiving fingers, the method comprising:
 i) mounting a diagonal cross brace onto to the second side tube by threading a first opening of a first strut of a diagonal cross brace onto a base portion of a first of the two first receiving fingers via a rigid bent end portion of the first of the two first receiving fingers;   ii) mounting the diagonal cross brace onto to the third side tube by threading a first opening of a second strut of the diagonal cross brace onto a second base portion of a second of the two first receiving fingers via a second rigid bent end portion of the second of the two receiving fingers;   iii) pivoting the diagonal cross brace so that: a) a second opening of the second strut is pushed over an end portion of a first of the two second receiving fingers and onto a base portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers, wherein the first of the two second receiving members is mounted to the second tube, and b) a second opening of the first strut is pushed over a second end portion of a second of the two second receiving fingers and onto a second base portion of the second of the two second receiving fingers, wherein the second of the two second receiving members is mounted to the third tube;   iv) pivoting the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers so that the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers protrudes beyond a diameter of the second opening of the second strut and overhangs the second opening of the second strut and locking the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers via a detent mechanism; and   v) pivoting the second end portion of the second of the two second receiving fingers so that so that the second end portion of the second of the two second receiving fingers protrudes beyond a diameter of the second opening of the first strut and overhangs the second opening of the first strut and locking the second end portion of the second of the two second receiving fingers via a second detent mechanism, thereby preventing unintentional release of the diagonal cross brace from the second and third tubes.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein i) and ii) occur concurrently. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein v) occurs subsequent to iv). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 before iii), pivoting the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers so that the end portion aligns in parallel with the base portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers and locking the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers via the detent mechanism, thereby forming a long finger.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers is pivoted 90 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first of the two first receiving fingers positioned on the second tube opposite to the second of the two first receiving fingers positioned on the third tube. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first of the two first receiving fingers is positioned below the first of the two second receiving fingers on the second tube. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the rigid bent end portion of the first of the two first receiving fingers points away from the first of the two second receiving fingers on the second tube. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein threading the first opening of the first strut of the diagonal cross brace onto the base portion of the first of the two first receiving fingers suspends the diagonal cross brace by virtue of an angle between the base portion and the rigid bend end portion of the first of the two first receiving fingers, thereby preventing unintentional release of the first strut when a force is exerted on the diagonal cross brace from above. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the angle is between 20 and 70 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the rigid bent end portion of the first of the two first receiving fingers tapers conically in a direction away from the base portion of a first of the two first receiving fingers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers tapers conically in a direction away from the base portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second opening of the second strut is pushed over the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers and onto the base portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers without resistance from the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers or the base portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the diagonal cross brace is mounted to the second and third tubes by a single person. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein, during iii), undesirable shifting of both the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers and the second end portion of the second of the two second receiving fingers is avoided. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein during iv), the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers is pivoted 90 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the supporting framework includes a third frame connected to either the first frame or the second frame via a second diagonal cross brace. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the two first receiving fingers and the two second receiving fingers are situated in corner regions of the first and second frames. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the end portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers is articulatedly supported on the base portion of the first of the two second receiving fingers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second and third tubes are connected by a plurality of diagonal cross braces.