US20040197147A1

Movatterモバイル変換

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Publication number: US20040197147A1
Application number: US10/408,374
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory Kennedy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-04-07
Filing date: 2003-04-07
Publication date: 2004-10-07

Abstract

A walkway apparatus enabling lengthwise pedestrian utilization of the area above an open ditch and method for implementing the same. The walkway apparatus includes one or more walkpath surface sheets disposed lengthwise along the open corridor above the ditch. A primary support frame vertically supports the walkpath surface sheets above the ditch from one or both of the opposing ditch banks. In accordance with one embodiment, the primary support frame includes dual rail support members longitudinally disposed as substantially parallel tracks along each of the opposing banks such that the walkpath surface sheets are bilaterally supported along the opposing ditch banks. In an alternate embodiment, the walking surface sheets are unilaterally support from one ditch bank by a cantilevered vertical support frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field[0001]

The present invention relates generally to the field of walking paths and sidewalks, and in particular to an apparatus for enabling lengthwise pedestrian utilization of the area above a ditch.[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art[0003]

Water drainage systems comprising one or more ditches, canals arroyos, etc., are commonly utilized in and around communities and farms as a means of draining and redirecting excess rainfall to prevent flooding or undesirable water collection and retention. Ditches are commonly dug lengthwise in parallel with the sides of major traffic thoroughfares to control flooding thereon, particularly in areas in which road, building, and home construction have dramatically reduced the exposed earth surface area on which the rain or runoff may be absorbed into the ground. In addition to reducing roadway flood hazards, the disposition of drainage ditches adjacent to streets and highways is logistically convenient in terms of minimizing the obstruction posed by ditches to the community layout.[0004]

There are a variety of known types of drainage conduit trenches including open ditches, culverts, closed aqueducts, etc. Having low construction and maintenance costs and relatively high water drainage capacity, open ditches are the most commonly utilized type of community drainage system. While effective for addressing flooding and long term water drainage issues, conventional drainage systems often present major logistical problems in terms of consuming valuable space along the edges of roadways that might otherwise be utilized as sidewalks, bicycle paths, etc. This problem is particularly acute in areas neighborhoods or other developed areas not originally designed to accommodate pedestrian and cyclist traffic and in which the roadside area occupied by open ditches leaves little if any room for a pedestrian and cyclist parallel to the roadway.[0005]

It can therefore be appreciated that a need exists for an apparatus and method that address the foregoing problems associated with the pedestrian utilization limits imposed by roadside ditches. The present invention addresses such a need.[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A walkway apparatus enabling lengthwise pedestrian utilization of the area above an open ditch and method for implementing the same are disclosed herein. The walkway apparatus includes one or more walkpath surface sheets disposed lengthwise along the open corridor above the ditch. A primary support frame vertically supports the walkpath surface sheets above the ditch from one or both of the opposing ditch banks. In accordance with one embodiment, the primary support frame includes dual rail support members longitudinally disposed as substantially parallel tracks along each of the opposing banks such that the walkpath surface sheets are bilaterally supported along the opposing ditch banks. In an alternate embodiment, the walking surface sheets are unilaterally support from one ditch bank by a cantilevered vertical support frame.[0007]

The above as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:[0009]

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate overhead and cross section profile views, respectively, of an open ditch walkway apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;[0010]

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of a cantilevered open ditch walkway apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and[0011]

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict cross section and overhead views, respectively, of a cantilevered open ditch walkway apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is described in a preferred embodiment in the following description with reference to the figures. While this invention is described in terms of the best mode for achieving this invention's objectives, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention.[0013]

As explained in further detail with reference to the figures, the present invention is directed to an improved walkway, sidewalk, or similar pedestrian pathway that enables lengthwise pedestrian utilization of the otherwise unusable open corridor area above an open ditch. The design features of the walkpath apparatus of the present invention provide an unobtrusive and ecologically friendly pedestrian traffic path supported by the natural contour of most drainage ditches. In contrast to bridges, causeways, and similar constructs, which enable traffic to laterally cross over a body of water or other natural or manmade obstacle, the walkpath of the present invention advantageously enables lengthwise traversal along the open corridor above a ditch. Furthermore, in contrast to trench grates that are used in driveways, parking lots, and the like which provide a supporting surface for vehicular or pedestrian traffic while permitting the collection of storm water, the present invention provides a more suitable pedestrian path wherein water flows laterally into the ditch without presenting an inconvenient and potentially dangerous obstacle on the walkway itself. The terms “pedestrian path,” “pedestrian utilization,” “walkway path”, or other similar terms that are utilized interchangeably in the following description and claims in describing the invention, refer to a surface path designed primarily for lengthwise traversal by pedestrians, bicycles, roller skates, roller blades or other modes of primarily manual mechanized travel means of the open corridor above a ditch. Although it may be possible to drive or ride larger motorized vehicles on the ditch walkway of the present invention, many of the possible features explained in further detail below make such standard street traffic utilization impracticable if not impossible.[0014]

With reference now to the figures, and in particular with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there are shown overhead and cross section profiles views, respectively, illustrating an open[0015]

ditch walkway apparatus

10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,walkway apparatus10 includes apparatus support features enabling awalking sheet surface2 to be supported in a lengthwise manner along the corridor above an otherwiseopen ditch16. As utilized herein the terms “ditch,” is used interchangeably with terms such as “trench,” “canal”, “arroyo” and other similar designations of relatively narrow, shallow open water drainage conduits that are designed to contain and redirect rainwater or runoff which would otherwise rise and collect on roads or other community infrastructure. It should be noted that the present invention is designed to provide a walkway primarily suited for travel along the length ofopen ditch16 and that the relatively short representative segment ofwalkway apparatus10 depicted in FIG. 1A is but one of segment of a larger path constructed from such subassemblies.

In the depicted embodiment, the walkway support features comprise primary support means in the form of dual[0016]

rail support members

4 that are longitudinally disposed as substantially parallel tracks along each of theopposing ditch banks15 that provide a bilateral and elevated (with respect to bank surface15) vertical support forum for the one or morewalkpath surface sheets2. Specifically, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment, dualrail support members4 comprise one or more concrete blocks disposed lengthwise in parallel along each of theopposing ditch banks15, and further includelongitudinal shoulder grooves12 in which the lateral edges of thewalkpath surface sheets2 may be vertically supported and horizontally bounded and retained. L-shaped metallic reinforcement supports18 provide additional support and protection of theconcrete shoulders12 to prevent chipping or cracking of the concrete shoulder surface.

It should be noted that any number of such concrete rail members can be aligned end-to-end along each of the[0017]

opposing ditch banks

15 to form a substantially continuous ditch walkway extending for hundreds of yards or even miles. Given the role ofditch16 as a drainage repository for storm and runoff water, the structure and/or disposition of the dualrail support members4 are designed to permit lateral adjacent ingress and egress of water into or fromditch16. To this end, and as further illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, dualrail support members4 include laterally penetrating apertures orholes8 extending from the adjacent bank areas to theditch16 underwalkpath surface sheets2. In an alternative approach to enabling lateral ingress and egress of water into and out ofditch16, dualrail support members4 may be aligned end-to-end with gaps left regularly or intermittently therebetween.

The one or more[0018]

walkpath surface sheets

2 depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B are preferably composed of a number of relatively thin rectangular sheets ranging in thickness from 0.5″ to 2.0.″ The sheets are may be constructed of various materials having suitable rigidity, strength, and impact and corrosion resistance characteristics suitable for supporting a maximum anticipated weight of traffic. Such sheet materials may include metals, wood, acrylic plastics, polymers, etc. In alternative embodiments,walking surface sheets2 may either be solid flat sheets or may include multiple vent holes for permitting ingress and egress of gases and liquids through the sheets into and out ofditch16. For pedestrian traffic safety, and in a preferred embodiment,walking surface sheets2 include a non-skid upper surface providing adequate foot traction particularly when the walking surface becomes wet.

The construction and choice of materials utilized for[0019]

walkpath surface sheets

2 are significant in regard to the lengthwise disposition of openditch walkway apparatus10 over and along the open corridor aboveditch16. In particular, it is well known to those familiar with water drainage systems that it is necessary to maintain a significant growth of rooted plants in and around an open ditch such asditch16 and its banks to prevent excessive erosion of soil from the ditch and furthermore to serve as chemical pollution control agents whereon many toxic substances such as pesticides will bind. Without sufficient sunlight, the vegetation growing on the bottom and side surfaces ofditch16 soon dies, resulting in excessive erosion of the ditch, downsteam silt pollution, and reduced toxic filtration. Handful sunlight blockage is not a problem for bridges or other lateral crossing devices because even for wide bridges, the lateral traversal design renders any incidental sunlight deprivation relatively insignificant to the undergrowing vegetation which is either subjected to only temporary daylight cycle determined sunlight deprivation or is simply too small an area of coverage to significantly contribute to ground erosion or reduced toxic pollution control.

In contrast to such lateral cross paths, such as bridges, which accommodate cross-wise or lateral crossing of an underlaying waterway or trench, the longitudinal disposition of[0020]

multiple walkpath sheets

2 accommodates lengthwise pedestrian traffic along the open area above the ditch and consequently presents a potentially significant problem of temporally and spatially extensive sunblockage of vegetation withinditch16. The present invention addresses this potential problem in two primary ways. First, and referring to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the lateral edges ofwalkpath surface sheets2 are placed and rest on themetallic reinforcements18 ofshoulder grooves12 with little or no fastening means required to couple thewalkpath surface sheets2 onto the dualrail support members4. In this manner,walkpath sheets2 can be removably placed and removed as desired to enable sufficient sunlight exposure for a sufficient time for the ditch plants to grow or recuperate.

Given the inconvenience and disruption incident to removing segments of the open ditch walkway, however, and referring again to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a preferred embodiment of the present invention addresses the problem of prolonged vegetation sunblockage in an alternate manner, namely, by constructing[0021]

walkpath surface sheets

2 of a translucent or semi-translucent sheet material. Specifically, a preferredwalkpath surface sheet2 is preferably composed of an acrylic, plastic, glass or other material enabling passage of sunlight from its upper surface (i.e. facing upwardly away from ditch16) to and through the lower surface facing downwardly (i.e. toward the ditch surface) intoditch16 to enable photosynthetic processes by rooted plants growing withinditch16 beneath the one or more translucentwalkpath surface sheets2. In this manner, sufficient sunlight will be adequately passed and/or diffused and evenly distributed along the bottom and side water-boundary surfaces ofditch16. As utilized herein, “translucent” is intended to mean and encompass any and all materials or combinations of materials that exhibit the property of enabling passing of a sufficient quantity (i.e. intensity) and quality (i.e. wavelengths conducive to photosynthesis processes) of sunlight to pass therethrough and into the ditch surface. Furthermore, as utilized herein, “translucent” denotes several suitably light transmitting/absorbing characteristics including translucent, semi-translucent, transparent, semi-transparent, and semi-opaque.

[0022]

Open ditch walkway

10 preferably includes secondary support means in the form of one ormore metal grates6 that are placed in a supportive position belowwalkpath surface sheets2 onto the L-shapedmetallic reinforcement sleeves18 wherein the lateral edges ofmetal grates6 are bilaterally vertically supported acrossditch16 byshoulder grooves12. Disposed in the manner depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, metal grates6 provide substantial secondary support that translates vertical bilateral support from dualrail support members4 to walkpathsurface sheets2. The secondary support provided bymetal grates6 may be necessary to ensure adequate bilateral support stability and safety for a relatively wide walkway. Furthermore, in the case of a highly translucent ortransparent walkpath sheet2, the metal grating viewable from below the walkpath provides significant psychological assurance to pedestrians who might otherwise hesitate to enter the walkpath.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B,[0023]

open ditch walkway

10 further includes one ormore access portals14 disposed at one or more offset (i.e. not directly opposing) locations along the lateral edges ofopen ditch walkway10. The one ormore access portals14 provide multiple discrete entry or exit points for pedestrian traffic along the lateral edges ofopen ditch walkway10. As shown in the depicted embodiment,access portal14 comprises a sloped ramp extending upwardly from an adjacent ground surface to the pedestrian traffic surface ofwalkpath surface sheet2 enabling pedestrians, including handicapped persons, to conveniently accessopen ditch walkway10 at selected lateral points of entry. Although not expressly depicted in the figures, one or more ofaccess portals14 may take the form of one or more stepped ramps comprising one or more steps extending upwardly from the adjacent ground surface to the walking surface ofopen ditch walkway10.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the dual rail walkway apparatus may be replaced with a cantilevered design that may be less obtrusive when, for example, heavy tree growth or other natural or manmade obstacles restrict construction accessibility on both banks of a ditch. With reference to FIG. 2, there is depicted a cross section view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a cantilevered open[0024]

ditch walkway apparatus

20 serves as the primary support means for supporting the walkpath. Specifically, a cantileveredwalkway apparatus20 is illustrated having a support frame comprising slip-oncantilevered trusses28 that provide vertical support for walkingsurface sheet2. Cantilevered trusses28 are anchored to ditchbank15 by attachment of the bankside edges oftrusses28 to one or morecorrugated drive plates26, which are fixedly engaged within a suitablysized retention pocket24. For pedestrian traffic safety, aguardrail22 is disposed along the distal lateral edge ofwalkway apparatus20 overhangingditch16. The combination corrugated drive plate/retention pocket units are prefereably fixed at regular intervals alongditch bank15 with the retention pocket typically ranging from 15″ to24″ wide andcorrugated drive plate26 ranging from 17″ to22″ wide. In alternative embodiments, walkingsurface sheet2 may comprise a translucent or semi-translucent material and furthermore may be vertically supported within the cantilevered frame by a secondary support means such as a metal grate as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, there are depicted cross section and overhead views, respectively, of a variation of the cantilevered design approach in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, a cantilevered[0025]

walkway apparatus

30 is depicted in which aretention pocket34 on the proximal end of a cantileveredsupport frame32 is fitted over a concretepiling support member36.Cantilevered support frame32 may be constructed of a variety of materials having suitable strength, rigidity, and corrosion resistance properties, and in a preferred embodiment is fabricated as a pre-cast aluminum frame. As shown in FIG. 3A, substantial portions ofcantilevered support frame32 and concretepiling support member36 may be buried withinditch bank15 for addition support. Thewalkpath surface sheet2 ofcantilevered walkway apparatus30 is preferably a non-skid surface supported bymetal grate6 within the cantileveredsupport frame32, and may possess sunlight-translucent properties as explained with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and2.

While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, it is contemplated that alterations, permutations, and equivalents thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this specification in view of the drawings supplied herewith. It is therefore intended that the invention and any claims related thereto include all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents that are encompassed by the spirit and scope of this invention.[0026]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for providing lengthwise pedestrian utilization of the area above a ditch, said apparatus comprising walkpath means disposed longitudinally within the open corridor above the ditch such that the walkpath means accommodate lengthwise traversal of the ditch.

2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of access portals disposed at multiple locations along the length of the walkpath means, wherein said plurality of access portals provide multiple discrete entry or exit points for pedestrian traffic along said walkpath means.

3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of access portals comprises a sloped ramp extending upwardly from an adjacent ground surface to a walking surface of said walkpath means.

4. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of access portals comprises one or more steps extending upwardly from an adjacent ground surface to a walking surface of said walkpath means.

5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said walkpath means includes at least one substantially rectangular walkpath surface sheet longitudinally supported above the ditch.

6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said at least one walkpath surface sheet is further characterized as comprising a translucent sheet that enables passage of sunlight therethrough to enable photosynthetic processes by plants growing within the ditch beneath said translucent sheet.

7. The apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein said translucent sheet is comprised of a material selected from among the group consisting of fully translucent material, semi-translucent material, fully transparent material, semi-transparent material, or semi-opaque material.

8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said walking surface sheet includes multiple vent holes for permitting ingress and egress of gases and liquids through said translucent sheet into and out of the ditch.

9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising vertical support means fixedly secured to one or both of the opposing banks of the ditch wherein said at least one walkpath surface sheet is removably supported by said vertical support means over a lengthwise segment of the ditch.

10. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the vertical support means comprises a cantilevered frame extendably supporting said translucent sheet from one of the opposing banks.

11. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the cantilevered frame comprises multiple cantilevered trusses extended from the one of the opposing banks.

12. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the vertical support means comprises dual rail support members longitudinally disposed as substantially parallel tracks along each of the opposing banks such that said at least one walkpath surface sheet is bilaterally supported along the opposing ditch banks.

13. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the dual rail support members comprising one or more concrete blocks disposed lengthwise in parallel along each of the opposing ditch banks, wherein each of the concrete blocks includes a shoulder groove for receivably engaging the lateral edges of the walking sheet.

14. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein each track of the dual rail support members are aligned end-to-end along each of the opposing ditch banks, said aligned dual rail support members having intermittent gaps enabling lateral ingress and egress of water flow into or from the ditch.

15. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the dual rail support members include holes penetrating laterally therethrough to enable lateral ingress and egress of water flow into or from the ditch.

16. The apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising walkpath support means that translates vertical support from the vertical support means to said at least one walkpath surface sheet.

17. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein said walkpath support means comprises at least one metal grate member bilaterally supported by said vertical support means.

18. A walkway apparatus enabling lengthwise pedestrian utilization of the area above an open ditch, said walkway apparatus comprising at least one translucent sheet disposed lengthwise along the open corridor above the ditch.

19. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein the length to width ratio of said at least one lengthwise disposed translucent sheet accommodates lengthwise pedestrian traffic lengthwise along the open corridor above the ditch.

20. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein the length to width ratio of the at least one longitudinally suspended translucent sheet is at least ten.

21. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, further comprising guardrails disposed in parallel along the lateral edges of said at least one translucent sheet.

22. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, further comprising a plurality of access portals disposed at multiple locations along the length of the walkway apparatus, wherein said plurality of access portals provide multiple discrete entry or exit points for pedestrian traffic along the lateral edges of said walkway apparatus.

23. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 22, wherein at least one of said plurality of access portals comprises a sloped ramp extending upwardly from an adjacent ground surface to a walking surface of said walkpath apparatus.

24. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 22, wherein at least one of said plurality of access portals comprises one or more steps extending upwardly from an adjacent ground surface to a walking surface of said walkpath apparatus.

25. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein said at least one translucent sheet is comprised of a material selected from among the group consisting of fully translucent material, semi-translucent material, fully transparent material, semi-transparent material, or semi-opaque material.

26. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, said at least one translucent sheet having an upper surface facing upwardly away from the ditch and a lower surface facing downwardly toward the ditch, and further characterized as comprising material enabling passage of sunlight from the upper surface to the lower surface and through the lower surface into the ditch to enable photosynthetic processes by plants growing within the ditch beneath said at least one translucent sheet.

27. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein said at least one translucent sheet includes a non-skid surface.

28. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein the ditch is further characterized as selected from the group consisting of ditches, channels, or canals.

29. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein the ditch is characterized as including running in close parallel proximity to a vehicular traffic roadway.

30. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein said translucent sheet includes multiple vent holes for permitting ingress and egress of gases and liquids through said translucent sheet into and out of the ditch.

31. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 18, further comprising primary support means for supporting said at least one translucent sheet along the open corridor above the ditch from at least one of the opposing banks of the ditch.

32. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 31, wherein said primary support means comprises a cantilevered frame extendably supporting said translucent sheet from one of the opposing banks.

33. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 28, wherein said cantilevered frame comprises multiple cantilevered trusses extended from the one of the opposing banks.

34. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 31, wherein said primary support means comprises dual rail support members longitudinally disposed as substantially parallel tracks along each of the opposing banks such that said at least one translucent sheet is bilaterally supported along the opposing ditch banks.

35. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein each track of said dual rail support members are aligned end-to-end along each of the opposing ditch banks, said aligned dual rail support members having intermittent gaps enabling lateral ingress and egress of water flow into or from the ditch.

36. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein said dual rail support members include holes penetrating laterally therethrough to enable lateral ingress and egress of water flow into or from the ditch.

37. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 34, further comprising secondary support means that translates vertical support from said primary support means to said at least one translucent sheet.

38. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 37, wherein said secondary support means comprises at least one metal grate member bilaterally supported by said primary support means.

39. The walkway apparatus ofclaim 34, wherein said dual rail support members are further characterized as being concrete blocks on which said at least one translucent sheet is supported above the banks of the ditch.