Patent ID: 9546458
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: B60R

Claim:
1. A gangway for being connected to a platform that selectively provides worker access to at least a portion of the top of a container disposed above the ground, the gangway being selectively extensible and retractable and comprising: a. a proximal end and a distal end extending opposite the proximal end, the proximal end including a first proximal upright and a second proximal upright spaced laterally apart from the first proximal upright, each of these proximal uprights having an upper end and a lower end disposed spaced apart from the upper end, the lower end of each of the proximal uprights being configured for attaching to the platform; b. a first stringer and a second stringer, the first stringer being spaced laterally apart from the second stringer, each stringer extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first stringer being pivotally connected to the lower end of the first proximal upright, the proximal end of the second stringer being pivotally connected to the lower end of the second proximal upright; c. a plurality of steps, each step being disposed spaced apart longitudinally from each other step, each step having a first end pivotally mounted to the first stringer and a second end spaced laterally apart from the first end of the step and pivotally mounted to the second stringer; d. the distal end of the gangway including a first distal upright and a second distal upright spaced laterally apart from the first distal upright, each distal upright having an upper end and a lower end spaced apart from the upper end, the lower end of the first distal upright being pivotally connected to the distal end of the first stringer, the lower end of the second distal upright being pivotally connected to the distal end of the second stringer; e. a first top rail extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first top rail being pivotally connected to the upper end of the first proximal upright, the distal end of the first top rail being pivotally connected to the upper end of the first distal upright, a second top rail extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second top rail being pivotally connected to the upper end of the second proximal upright, the distal end of the second top rail being pivotally connected to the upper end of the second distal upright; f. a first spring tube extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first spring tube being pivotally connected to the first proximal upright, the distal end of the first spring tube being pivotally connected to the distal end of the first stringer, a second spring tube extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second spring tube being pivotally connected to the second proximal upright, the distal end of the second spring tube being pivotally connected to the distal end of the second stringer; and g. a selectively extensible and retractable lifting resistance device having a proximal end and a distal end longitudinally spaced apart from the proximal end, the proximal end of the lifting resistance device being pivotally connected to the first top rail, the distal end of the lifting resistance device being pivotally connected to the first distal upright.