US20220042327A1

US20220042327A1 - Height adjustable building mounted platform assembly.

Info

Publication number: US20220042327A1
Application number: US17/393,630
Authority: US
Inventors: Germain Depot
Original assignee: Echafaudages Secur It Inc
Current assignee: Echafaudages Secur It Inc
Priority date: 2020-08-04
Filing date: 2021-08-04
Publication date: 2022-02-10
Also published as: CA3126659A1

Abstract

A height adjustable platform assembly securable to a building including a pair of anchors each removably mountable to the building through an opening thereof at a respective one of the opening lateral edges; a pair of supports each removably mounted to a respective one of the anchors; and a platform positionable so as to extend between the supports and be supported thereby. With the height adjustable platform assembly operatively secured to the building with the anchors mounted through the building opening, the supports each protrude outwardly from the building and support the platform outside of the building adjacent to the building outside surface. Each support is mountable to the respective one of the anchors at at least two vertically spaced apart locations therealong to allow adjustment of a vertical position of the platform relative to the building.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general field of construction, and is more specifically concerned with a height adjustable building mounted platform assembly.

BACKGROUND

Many tasks need to be performed manually on the outside of a building during its construction, such as cladding installation. In mid-height buildings, performing these tasks require the use of a lift, such as a boom or scissor lift. Such lifts are relatively expensive and may require a relatively large area free of obstacle to operate. While window mounted platforms are available, such platforms have a fixed height relative to the window and it is difficult for a worker to easily and safely cover the whole span between adjacent stories and/or adjacent windows using such platforms.
Against this background, there exists a need in the construction industry to provide novel and improved devices for supporting a worker outside of a building. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide such an improved device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect, there is provided a height adjustable platform assembly securable to a building, the building defining a building opening extending between building inside and outside surfaces and delimited by laterally opposed opening side edges and vertically opposed opening bottom and top edges, the platform assembly comprising: a pair of anchors each removably mountable to the building through the opening at a respective one of the opening lateral edges; a pair of supports each removably mounted to a respective one of the anchors; and a platform positionable so as to extend between the supports and be supported thereby. With the height adjustable platform assembly operatively secured to the building with the anchors mounted through the building opening, the supports each protrude outwardly from the building and support the platform outside of the building adjacent to the building outside surface. Each support is mountable to the respective one of the anchors at at least two vertically spaced apart locations therealong. Changing the locations of the supports relative to the anchors adjusts a vertical position of the platform relative to the building.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein each support is mountable to the respective one of the anchors only at discrete locations vertically spaced apart from each other therealong.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein the supports are removably mounted to the anchors.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein the supports are each lockable to the anchors.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein the anchors each include a pair of hooks vertically spaced apart from each other when the height adjustable platform assembly is operatively secured to the building.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein the anchors each include an elongated post, the hooks being mounted to the post at vertically spaced apart locations, the anchors also defining support mounts each able to receive one of the supports.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein the opening lateral, top and bottom edges are defined respectively by lateral, top and bottom beams delimiting the building opening, and wherein the hooks each define a respective recess receiving one of the lateral beams thereinto.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein the hooks are adjustable to adjust dimensions of the recess so that the hooks fit around side beams of different transversal cross-sectional dimensions.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein the hooks are substantially J-shaped.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein the supports are substantially elongated, the support mounts each including a respective aperture formed in the anchor and configured for fittingly receiving part of the supports thereinto.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein wherein the anchors and supports are provided with apertures extending therethrough and aligned along a common axis when the supports are operatively mounted to the anchors, the height adjustable platform assembly further comprising pins insertable through the apertures to lock the anchors and supports to each other.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly wherein the supports are provided each with a side guard extending upwardly at a periphery of the platform.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly further comprising a front guard mounted to and extending between the side guards of each of the supports in a spaced apart relationship relative to the building.
There may also be provided a height adjustable platform assembly further comprising a rear guard mounted to and extending between the anchors opposed to the front guard relative to the platform.
In another broad aspect, there is provided an assembly comprising: a pair of height adjustable platform assemblies as defined above each mounted to a respective one of two building apertures extending laterally spaced apart from each other; and an other platform extending between the two platform assemblies.
In yet another broad aspect, there is provided a method of using a height adjustable platform kit on a building defining a building opening extending between building inside and outside surfaces and delimited by laterally opposed opening side edges and vertically opposed opening bottom and top edges, the height adjustable platform kit including a pair of anchors, a pair of supports and a platform, each anchor defining first and second spaced apart support mounts for selectively and alternatively mounting one of the supports thereto, the method comprising: securing the anchors to the building by mounting the anchors to the building through the building opening each at one of the opening side edges so that the first and second support mounts are vertically spaced apart from each other; securing the supports each to a respective one of the first support mounts; with the supports protruding outwardly from the building substantially horizontally spaced apart from each other, mounting the platform to the supports with the supports secured to the first support mounts and the anchors secured to the building so that the platform is supported outside of the building adjacent the building outside surface to achieve a first assembled configuration of the height adjustable platform kit; removing the platform from the supports; moving the supports each to a respective one of the second support mounts such that the supports protrude outwardly from the building substantially horizontally spaced apart from each other; and mounting the platform to the supports with the supports secured to the second support mounts and the anchors secured to the building so that the platform is supported outside of the building adjacent the building outside surface to achieve a second assembled configuration of the height adjustable platform kit. A height of the platform relative to the building changes between the first and second assembled configurations while keeping at least part of the height adjustable platform kit secured to the building.
There may also be provided a method wherein step of moving the supports each to a respective one of the second support mounts such that the supports protrude outwardly from the building substantially horizontally spaced apart from each other is performed while the anchors remain secured to the building.
There may also be provided a method wherein the anchors include adjustable hooks for engaging the building, the method further comprising adjusting the hooks so that the hooks a snugly mounted to the building.
Advantageously, the proposed platform assembly can be installed through the building opening during its construction, such as through a window opening before the window is installed, following which a worker may work outside of the building safely. If the worker needs to access various locations that are vertically spaced apart from each other, the supports may be easily moved relative to the anchors to change the height of the platform. In some embodiments, this operation can be performed without completely removing the platform assembly, by only removing the platform and detaching and reattaching the supports, which allows to rapidly adjust the height of the platform relative to the window opening.
In some embodiments, the platform assembly can be disassembled into a number of relatively small components, allowing easy installation, compact storage and easy transportation using a relatively small vehicle.
In yet another broad aspect, the invention provides a height adjustable platform assembly securable to a building, the building defining a pair of horizontally spaced apart building openings extending between building inside and outside surfaces and each delimited by laterally opposed opening side edges and vertically opposed opening bottom and top edges, the platform assembly comprising: a pair of anchors each removably mountable to the building through a respective one of the opening at a respective one of the opening lateral edges; a pair of supports each removably mounted to a respective one of the anchors; and a platform positionable so as to extend between the supports and be supported thereby; wherein, with the height adjustable platform assembly operatively secured to the building with the anchors mounted through the building openings, the supports each protrude outwardly from the building and support the platform outside of the building adjacent to the building outside surface with at least part of the platform extending between the building openings. Each support is mountable to the respective one of the anchors at at least two vertically spaced apart locations therealong. Changing the locations of the supports relative to the anchors adjusts a vertical position of the platform relative to the building.
The present application incorporates by reference in its entirety the contents of U.S. provisional patent application 63/061,031 filed Aug. 4, 2020 from which the present application claims benefit.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, in a perspective view, illustrates a platform assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2, in a perspective exploded view, illustrates the platform assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, in a perspective view, illustrates the platform assembly of FIG. 1 in a first configuration mounted to beams part of a building;

FIG. 4, in a perspective view, illustrates the platform assembly of FIG. 1 in a second configuration mounted to beams part of a building;

FIG. 5, in a perspective view, illustrates the platform assembly of FIG. 1 in a third configuration mounted to beams part of a building;

FIG. 6, in a perspective view, illustrates anchoring of the platform assembly of FIG. 1 to the beams of FIGS. 3 to 5;

FIG. 7, in a perspective exploded view, illustrates an anchor part of the platform assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8, in a perspective view exploded view, illustrates a post and a support member part of the platform assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9, in a side elevation view, illustrates a side guard part of the platform assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10, in a perspective exploded view, illustrates the side guard of FIG. 9 and part of two front guards part of the platform assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11, in a schematic view, illustrates a building under construction to which platform assemblies of FIG. 1 are mounted, with a platform extending between two o the platform assemblies; and

FIG. 12, in a flowchart, illustrates a method of using the platform assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “substantially” is used throughout this document to indicate variations in the thus qualified terms. These variations are variations that do not materially affect the manner in which the invention works and can be due, for example, to uncertainty in manufacturing processes or to small deviations from a nominal value or ideal shape that do not cause significant changes to the invention. These variations are to be interpreted from the point of view of the person skilled in the art.
Directional terminology, such as right, left, top, bottom, forward and backward, among others, refers to the orientation relative to an upstanding building. This terminology is used for clarity reasons and should not be used to restrict the scope of the claims unless explicitly claimed.
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a height adjustable platform assembly 10. As seen in FIG. 11, the platform assembly 10 is securable to a building 12. For example, the platform assembly 10 is usable while the building 12 is under construction, but in some embodiments, use of the platform assembly 10 in a completed building 12 is within the scope of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the building 12 (only partially shown in FIGS. 3 to 5) defines a building opening 14 delimited by laterally opposed opening lateral edges 16 and 18 and vertically opposed opening bottom and top edges 20 and 22. For example, and non-limitingly, the opening lateral, top and bottom edges 16, 18, 20 and 22 are defined by wood or concrete elements forming the structure of the building 12 and the building opening 14 is a window opening that will eventually be plugged by a window. In a very specific example, the opening lateral, top and bottom edges 16, 18, 20 and 22 are defined respectively by two lateral, top and bottom beams 17, 19, 21 and 23 delimiting the building opening 14. The building opening 14 extends between building inside and outside surfaces 11 and 13.
In some embodiments, the platform assembly 10 is mountable across a single building opening 14. In other embodiments, the platform assembly 10 is mountable across two adjacent building openings 14, so that the platform assembly 10 spans both building openings 14 and the portion of the building 12 therebetween. In yet other embodiments, two platforms assemblies 10 are positioned each at a respective building openings 14 and have a platform 32 that extends between the two platform assemblies 10 to allow access to the portion of the building 12 between the two building openings 14. These three types of embodiments are illustrated in FIG. 11.
The platform assembly 10 includes a pair of anchors 24 and 26, a pair of supports 28 and 30 and a platform 32. The anchors 24 and 26 are each removably mountable to the building 12 through the building opening 14 at a respective one of the opening lateral edges 16 and 18. Each support 28 and 30 is removably mountable to a respective one of the anchors 24 and 26. The platform 32 extends between the supports 28 and 30 and is supported thereby. Each support 28 and 30 is mountable to the respective one of the anchors 24 and 26 at at least two vertically spaced apart locations therealong, so that changing a vertical location of the supports 28 and 30 relative to the anchors 24 and 26 adjusts a vertical position of the platform 32 relative to the building 12. When the platform assembly 10 is operatively secured to the building 12 with the anchors 24 and 26 mounted through the building opening 14, the supports 28 and 30 each protrude outwardly from the building 12 and support the platform 32 outside of the building 12 adjacent to the building outside surface 13.
Typically, the supports 28 and 30 are mountable to the respective one of the anchors 24 and 26 only at discrete locations vertically spaced apart from each other therealong. This facilitates assembly of a platform assembly 10 in which the platform 32 is substantially horizontal.
Typically, the anchors 24 and 26 are mirror images of each other and the supports 28 and 30 are either mirror images of each other or similar or identical to each other. However, in cases in which the supports 28 and 30 are provided with side guard rails, as described below, and two platform assemblies 10 are used together, one of the supports 28 and 30 may be replaced by a post. More details about this variant are provided below. In view of the lateral symmetry presented by the platform assembly 10, only the anchor 24 and the support 28 are described in details below.
Referring for example to FIG. 6, the anchor 24 includes a pair of hooks 34 and a substantially elongated post 36 defining support mounts 40 at spaced apart longitudinal locations therealong. The hooks 34 are mounted to the post 36 at longitudinally spaced apart locations therealong, which are vertically spaced apart when the platform assembly 10 is operatively mounted to the building 12.
The post 36 takes for example the form of an elongated tubular member, having for example a substantially square cross-sectional configuration. The post 36 define at least two hook mounts 38 and at least two support mounts 40 for mounting respectively the hooks 34 and the support 28 thereto. For example, two hook mounts 38 and three support mounts 40 are defined, but any other suitable number of hook and support mounts 38 and 40 are present in alternative embodiments of the invention.
The hook and support mounts 38 and 40 may take for example the form of suitable apertures defined in the post 36. For example, the hook and support mounts 38 and 40 are through apertures extending parallel to the building opening 14 when the platform assembly 10 is operationally mounted to the building 12. The use of through apertures in the hook mounts 38 allows for easily customizing the platform assembly 10 to buildings having various thicknesses around the building opening 14. Other mounts, such as clamps or fasteners, among other possibilities, may be used instead of through apertures.
In some embodiments, the post 36 also defines lateral apertures 37 in register with the apertures of the hook and support mounts 38 and 40 that are configured to receive an element that is able to lock the hooks 34 and the support 28 relative to the post 36 when the former are mounted to the hook and support mounts 38 and 40 with the apertures axially aligned to each other. For example, the lock is any pin-shaped element 42 that can extend laterally through both the post 36 and either the hooks 34 or the support 28. The pin-shaped element 42 may include a bolt, a pin, a bolt, a screw, or any other similar element having the same function. In some embodiments, the pin-shaped element 42 is securely engaged in the post 36 by using a bolt, threads, a cotter pin or any other suitable structure preventing accidental removal of the pin-shaped element 42 from the post 36 and the hooks 34 or support 28.
Each hook 34 is configured for engaging the building opening 14 to secure the post 36 to the building 12. For example, each hook 34 is substantially J-shaped to securely engage a substantially vertical lateral beam 17 or 19 of the building 12 along three sides thereof. Each hook 34 is mounted to the post 36 so as to support the latter fixedly relative to the building 12. For example, referring to FIG. 7 for example, each hook 34 includes a mounting member 46 insertable through one of the hook mounts 38, an L-shaped bracket 48 secured to the hook mounting member 46 and defining an adjustment slit 50 extending laterally relative to the hook mounting member 46 and a hook lock 53 movable along the adjustment slit 50 and lockable to the L-shaped bracket 48 at various longitudinal positions along the adjustment slit 50. Thus, the hook 34 defines a hook recess 52 (seen for example in FIG. 1) of adjustable width that is able to receive lateral beams 17 and 19 of various dimensions relatively tightly thereinto. In some embodiments, the hook recess 52 opens generally towards the exterior of the building 10 when the platform assembly 10 is mounted thereto, so that the building 10 can be squeezed between the hooks 34 and the posts 36 to secure the platform assembly 10 thereto.
The hook lock 53 may simply include two members securable to each other with a stem of one of the members extending through the adjustment slit. For example, a shoe 53 defines a pair of parallel shoe apertures 55 extending thereinto. A pin 57 is inserted in one of the shoe aperture and a knob 59 including a threaded pin 61 is screwable on the other shoe aperture 55. Both the pin 57 and the threaded pin 61 extend through the adjustment slit 50, the pin 57 preventing rotation of the shoe 53 relative to the adjustment slit 50 when the knob 59 is operated. Screwing firmly the knob 59 in the shoe 53 grasps the L-shaped bracket and stops relative movements between the shoe 53 and the L-shaped bracket 48. Other manners of varying the width of the hook 34 are also within the scope of the invention.
Typically, the hook mounting member 46 is securable at many different longitudinal positions therealong in the hook mount 38, for example by defining a plurality of hook mounting member apertures 54 extending laterally therethrough and configured and sized to receive the pin-shaped member 42 therethrough. Thus, the the posts 36 may be secured adjacent the outside surface of the building 12 for buildings 12 having many different thicknesses at the building opening 14. Typically, the post 36 is positioned to that the lowest hook mounting member 46 abuts against the opening bottom edge 20, for example against the bottom beam 21, to prevent downward movements of the post 36 relative to the building 12. This adjustment, along with the width adjustment of the hook 34 mentioned hereinabove therefore provide the hooks 34 that are adjustable to adjust dimensions of the recess 52 so that the hooks 34 may fit relatively tightly around side beams of different transversal cross-sectional dimensions.
The support 28 is mountable to the support mount 40. For example, as seen in FIG. 8 for example, the support 28 includes a platform supporting member 56 insertable in the support mount 40 so as to protrude substantially horizontally away from the building 12. The platform supporting member 56 defines a platform supporting member locking aperture 82 extending therethrough and configured to receive the pin-shaped member 42 therethrough when the latter extends through the post 36 to lock the support 28 to the post 36. The platform supporting member 56 is for example an elongated tubular member of substantially square transverse cross-sectional configuration. By mounting the platform supporting member 56 in different support mounts 40, as seen in the sequence of FIGS. 3 to 5, the height of the platform supporting member 56 relative to the post 36, and therefore to the building 12, can be adjusted as the post 36 remains at fixed positions relative thereto.
In some embodiments, the support 28 also includes a side guard 58 removably mounted or permanently secured to the platform supporting member 56 and typically extending upwardly at a periphery of the platform 32. For example, the side guard 58 is substantially P-shaped and insertable in a suitably shaped aperture 80 provided in the upward facing face of the platform supporting member 56, and may be locked thereto using a pin-shaped member 42 similarly to the other locks for members inserted in apertures described in the present document. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 collectively, the side guard 58 may include a side guard post 58′ and a U-shaped member 84 mounted thereto to define the P-shaped configuration of the side guard 58. When the U-shaped member 84 is omitted, the side guard post may be used by itself to mount thereto a front guard 60.
In some embodiments, front guards 60, for example in the form of elongated members, are mountable to the side guards 58, for example to the side guard posts 58′, so as to extend therebetween spaced apart from the building 12. Also, in some embodiments, a rear guard 62, seen in FIG. 1, for example in the form of an elongated member is also mountable to the posts 36, adjacent to the building 12 and therefore opposed to the front guards 60. The side, front and rear guards 58, 60 and 62 are secured in any suitable manner to the remainder of the platform assembly 10 and are typically provided so as to be above the peripheral portion of the platform 32 to prevent accidental falls from the latter. The side, front and rear guards 58, 60 and 62 may take different forms or be omitted completely in alternative embodiments of the invention.
In a very specific embodiment of the invention, the front guards 60 take the form of elongated extrusions in which a longitudinally extending T-shaped slit 64 having a substantially T-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration is formed. The narrow portion of the T-shaped slit leads to a deeper wide portion of the T-shaped slit, which received the head of a bolt 66 thereinto. The bolt 66 can receive thereonto a threaded aperture formed in a threaded knob 68, for example a wing nut, which, when the bolt 66 extends through a vertical portion of the side guard 58 with the bolt inserted in the T-shaped slit 64 and the threaded knob 68 is tightened, locks the front guards 60 to the side guards 58. More details regarding this type of arrangements is provided in Canadian Patent 2,624,516 issued Nov. 1, 2011, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The rear guard 62 is for example supported by an L-shaped bracket 70 mounted to the post 36, for example in a suitably shaped aperture similarly to the platform supporting members 56, and may take the form of a wooden board of a suitable length simply supported by the L-shaped bracket 70, or in some embodiments screwed thereto. The rear guard 62 may in some embodiments be sized to fit in the building opening 14 relatively tightly in between the two opening lateral edges 16 and 18 thereof, with the bracket 70 extending in the building opening 14.
In some embodiments, when two platform assemblies 10 are used side-by-side, one of the side guard 58 s may be replaced by the side guard post 58′, so that a continuous working space can be provided along and between the two platform assemblies 10.
The platform 32 is configured to be supported by the two platform supporting members 56 in a stable manner. For example the platform 32 includes a substantially flat plate 72 from which a peripheral ledge 74 extends upwardly. The peripheral ledge 74 may protrude from the plate 72 at selected locations therealong so as to engage the posts 36 and/or the side guards 58 to prevent lateral movements relative to the building 12. Also, in some embodiments, a collar 76 is slidably mounted to the side guards 58 adjacent the platform supporting member 56 and lockable to the side guard 58, for example with a threaded knob 80 inserted in a suitably shaped aperture of the collar 76 that can be screwed to engage the side guard 58. The collar 76 may define a notch 78 extending upwardly thereinto and configured to engage the peripheral ledge 74 when the threaded knob 80 is tightened and the collar 76 abuts against the peripheral ledge 74.
FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a method 100 of using the platform assembly 10. At step 105, the anchors 24 and 26 are secured to the building 10 and at step 110, the supports 28 and 30 are mounted to the anchors 24 and 26 through the posts 36. These steps can be performed in succession, with the supports 28 and 30 mounted to the anchors 24 and 26 after the latter have been mounted to the building 10. In other embodiments, they are performed simultaneously by first, mounting the hooks 34 the posts 36 and adjusting them so as to conform relatively tightly, or snugly, to the transversal dimensions of the lateral beams 17 and 19, and then mounting the supports 28 and 30, along with the side guards 58 or side post 58′ and, when present, the L-shaped brackets 70. The tightness of the hooks 34 (in other words, the degree to which the hooks hooks 34 are snug) must be such that the anchors 24 and 26 cannot accidentally fall from the building 10. Typically, the hooks 34 are even tighter, so that the platform 32 shows very little or no movements relative to the building 10 in use. This whole assembly is then mounted to the building 10 at the building opening 14 by engaging the hooks 34 to the lateral beams 17 and 19 and abutting the lowest hooks 34 against the opening bottom edge 20. Afterwards, at step 115, the platform 32 is positioned on the platform supporting members 56, the collar 76 is lowered to secure the platform 32 and locked using the knob 80, and the front guards 60 are mounted to this assembly. In a few easy to perform steps, the platform assembly 10 is thus positioned and secured across the building opening 14.
If there is a need to adjust the height of the platform 32 relative to the building, this can be performed by removing the platform 32 from the supports 28 and 30, at step 120, followed by moving the supports 28 and 32 each to a respective other support mount 40, at step 125. Then, the platform 32 may be reinstalled at step 130.
Using support mounts 40 that are higher or lower than the initial support mounts 40 to which the supports 28 and 32 were initially mounted therefore changes a height of the platform 32 relative to the building 10, which allows access to different parts of the outside surface 13 of the building while keeping at least part of the platform assembly 10 secured to the building 10. This can greatly increase the speed at which this operation is performed as the anchors 24 and 26 remain attached to the building 10. Since securing the anchors 24 and 26 to the building must be performed carefully for safety reasons, this operation can take some time to perform. Keeping the anchors 24 and 26 in place to adjust the platform 32 can therefore save considerable time.
Removal of the platform assembly 10 proceeds by reversing steps 105 to 115. Since the building openings 14 are of uniform size in many large constructions, the platform assembly 10 can be quickly removed and moved to another building openings 14 to perform work on various portions of the building 12.
Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplary embodiments, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. The present invention can thus be modified without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A height adjustable platform assembly securable to a building, the building defining a building opening extending between building inside and outside surfaces and delimited by laterally opposed opening side edges and vertically opposed opening bottom and top edges, the platform assembly comprising:

a pair of anchors each removably mountable to the building through the opening at a respective one of the opening lateral edges;

a pair of supports each removably mounted to a respective one of the anchors; and

a platform positionable so as to extend between the supports and be supported thereby;

wherein, with the height adjustable platform assembly operatively secured to the building with the anchors mounted through the building opening, the supports each protrude outwardly from the building and support the platform outside of the building adjacent to the building outside surface.

wherein each support is mountable to the respective one of the anchors at at least two vertically spaced apart locations therealong;

whereby changing the locations of the supports relative to the anchors adjusts a vertical position of the platform relative to the building.

2. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each support is mountable to the respective one of the anchors only at discrete locations vertically spaced apart from each other therealong.

3. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the supports are removably mounted to the anchors.

4. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the supports are each lockable to the anchors.

5. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the anchors each include a pair of hooks vertically spaced apart from each other when the height adjustable platform assembly is operatively secured to the building.

6. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the anchors each include an elongated post, the hooks being mounted to the post at vertically spaced apart locations, the anchors also defining support mounts each able to receive one of the supports.

7. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the opening lateral, top and bottom edges are defined respectively by lateral, top and bottom beams delimiting the building opening, and wherein the hooks each define a respective recess receiving one of the lateral beams thereinto.

8. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the hooks are adjustable to adjust dimensions of the recess so that the hooks fit around side beams of different transversal cross-sectional dimensions.

9. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the hooks are substantially J-shaped.

10. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein the supports are substantially elongated, the support mounts each including a respective aperture formed in the anchor and configured for fittingly receiving part of the supports thereinto.

11. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the anchors and supports are provided with apertures extending therethrough and axially aligned when the supports are operatively mounted to the anchors, the height adjustable platform assembly further comprising pin-shaped elements insertable through the apertures to lock the anchors and supports to each other.

12. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the supports are provided each with a side guard extending upwardly at a periphery of the platform.

13. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 12, further comprising a front guard mounted to and extending between the side guards of each of the supports in a spaced apart relationship relative to the building.

14. The height adjustable platform assembly as defined in claim 13, further comprising a rear guard mounted to and extending between the anchors opposed to the front guard relative to the platform.

15. An assembly comprising:

a pair of height adjustable platform assemblies as defined in claim 1 each mounted to a respective one of two building apertures extending laterally spaced apart from each other; and

an other platform extending between the two platform assemblies.

16. A method of using a height adjustable platform kit on a building defining a building opening extending between building inside and outside surfaces and delimited by laterally opposed opening side edges and vertically opposed opening bottom and top edges, the height adjustable platform kit including a pair of anchors, a pair of supports and a platform, each anchor defining first and second spaced apart support mounts for selectively and alternatively mounting one of the supports thereto, the method comprising:

securing the anchors to the building by mounting the anchors to the building through the building opening each at one of the opening side edges so that the first and second support mounts are vertically spaced apart from each other;

securing the supports each to a respective one of the first support mounts;

with the supports protruding outwardly from the building substantially horizontally spaced apart from each other, mounting the platform to the supports with the supports secured to the first support mounts and the anchors secured to the building so that the platform is supported outside of the building adjacent the building outside surface to achieve a first assembled configuration of the height adjustable platform kit;

removing the platform from the supports;

moving the supports each to a respective one of the second support mounts such that the supports protrude outwardly from the building substantially horizontally spaced apart from each other; and

mounting the platform to the supports with the supports secured to the second support mounts and the anchors secured to the building so that the platform is supported outside of the building adjacent the building outside surface to achieve a second assembled configuration of the height adjustable platform kit;

whereby a height of the platform relative to the building changes between the first and second assembled configurations while keeping at least part of the height adjustable platform kit secured to the building.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein step of moving the supports each to a respective one of the second support mounts such that the supports protrude outwardly from the building substantially horizontally spaced apart from each other is performed while the anchors remain secured to the building.

18. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the anchors include adjustable hooks for engaging the building, the method further comprising adjusting the hooks so that the hooks a snugly mounted to the building.

19. A height adjustable platform assembly securable to a building, the building defining a pair of horizontally spaced apart building openings extending between building inside and outside surfaces and each delimited by laterally opposed opening side edges and vertically opposed opening bottom and top edges, the platform assembly comprising:

a pair of anchors each removably mountable to the building through a respective one of the opening at a respective one of the opening lateral edges;

wherein, with the height adjustable platform assembly operatively secured to the building with the anchors mounted through the building openings, the supports each protrude outwardly from the building and support the platform outside of the building adjacent to the building outside surface with at least part of the platform extending between the building openings.