Platform assembly

The platform assembly provides a platform deck that manually deploys between raised and lowered positions and ensures a specific order of operation when moving the deck between the raised and lowered positions. The platform assembly includes a deck, which rides on a roller disposed within upright slide rails mounted to opposed interior walls of the trailer, vehicle or structure. The deck is supported by a horizontal side member in the lowered position and a support bracket and two sets of piston props in the raised position. The platform assembly uses a pair of stop pins that ride within a vertical channel in the upright slide rails and seat within notches formed in the rail channels.

This invention relates to a platform assembly that raises and lowers within a structure, such as a recreational vehicle or trailer, which acts as a storage or sleeping deck.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Recreational vehicles, fifth wheel and cargo trailers often have storage and sleep platforms that can be manually raised and lowered from a stowed position for use as a bed or storage area within their interior space. While these platforms are popular and have convenient features, these platforms heretofore suffered from a variety of operational and structural issues. In particular, manually operated platforms that employ various slides, linkages and cables and using piston props to counterbalance the weight of the decks often bind when the decks are not moved in a particular manner or order.

The platform assembly of this invention provides a platform deck that manually deploys between raised and lowered positions and ensures a specific order of operation when moving the deck between the raised and lowered positions. The platform assembly includes a deck, which rides on a roller disposed within upright slide rails mounted to opposed interior walls of the trailer, vehicle or structure. The deck is supported by a horizontal side member in the lowered position and a support bracket and two sets of piston props in the raised position. The platform assembly uses a pair of stop pins that ride within a vertical channel in the upright slide rails and seat within notches formed in the rail channels. The stop pin and the configuration of notches and the edges of the rail channel help ensure smooth operation, as well as the proper order of operation when raising and lowering the deck.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-12depict an exemplary embodiment of the platform assembly of this invention, which is designated generally as reference numeral100. Platform assembly100provides a horizontal deck that can be manually moved between raised and lowered positions within the interior space of a cargo trailer, recreational vehicle or dwelling structure. While platform assembly100is generally designed and intended for use in cargo trailers and recreational vehicles, it may be modified for other purposes in other structures and applications.

As shown, platform assembly100includes four basic structural components: a deck frame110; a pair of lift supports120; a pair of upright rails130; two sets of gas props140; and a pair of deck rest brackets160. The structural components of platform assembly100are generally built into and/or mounted to the interior walls and super structure of the trailer or recreational vehicle. The platform assembly may be modified in other embodiments to be a free standing structure within the living or working interior of the trailer or recreational vehicle.

Deck110includes a structural steel frame and a flat sheet of plywood, composite material or metal (not shown). In certain applications, deck frame110is designed and dimensioned to support a conventional mattress and/or box spring along with other bedding. The deck frame1includes a pair of side members112and two or more cross members114. Side supports120are lengths of angle horizontally mounted to the interior sidewalls of the trailer, vehicle or structure. Each side support120has a horizontal flange122and a vertical flange124. Deck pads128are mounted atop the horizontal flanges122. Upright rails130are upright lengths of box channel vertically mounted to opposed interior sidewalls of the trailer, vehicle or structure. The inward face of each upright rail130has a vertical slot or channel131extending the length of the rail. A notch133is cut or formed on one side of the inner edges of the inward rail face near the bottom of rail channel131. Piston props140are of conventional gas or pneumatic props and selected to assist in counterbalancing the weight of the deck when manually moving deck between the raised and lowered positions. As shown, piston props140are pivotally mounted at a select angle, generally between 30 and 45 degrees, between side supports120and frame side members112.

To simplify further explanation of the construction and operation of platform assembly100, deck110is referred to have opposed sides situated along the interior sidewalls of the trailer, vehicle or structure, and a rearward end situated between slide rails130and a forward end opposite the rearward end. A roller150is mounted to the rearward end of each side member112. Rollers150extend through slot131to ride within upright rail130, which allows the rearward end of deck110to vertically traverse the length of upright rail130. In addition, stop pins152are mounted to the rearward end of each side member112adjacent rollers150. Stop pins152also extend through rail channel131into upright rail130. In the lowered position (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6), deck110rests atop pads118affixed to side support120. Stop pins152seats within notch133and abut against an edge shoulder134when deck110is in the lowered position. In the raised position (FIGS. 2, 11 and 12), the deck110rests atop a deck pad168affixed atop support brackets160mounted to opposed interior walls of the trailer, vehicle or structure. Removable lock pins170that extend through aligned holes in upright rails130further lock and support the rearward end of deck110.

In operation moving deck110from the lowered position to the raised position, deck110is manually pushed rearward to shift stop pin152from edge shoulder134into rail channel131(FIG. 7). Next, the forward end of deck110is manually lifted so that stop pin134rides against channel edge136. As deck110is manually lifted towards the raised position, deck110is oriented at an angle with the forward end elevated above the rearward end (FIGS. 9 and 10). As deck110reaches the raised position, the rearward end of deck110is lifted to the top of upright rails130and the forward end of deck110rocks forward over deck supports160(FIG. 11). As the forward end of deck110begins to pivot down and forward, stop pin152rides along an angled channel edge138of rail channel131, which provides increasing slot width to accommodate the pin's movement long the slot as the deck pivots forward (FIG. 12). Props140provide a significant portion of the lifting force needed to manually lift deck110into the raised position. When deck110is being lifted, the forward most props140extend first raising the forward end of the deck (FIG. 9). The rear most props extend to help lift the rearward end of deck110. Both sets of props140are fully extended to support deck110in the raised position (FIG. 11).

In operation moving deck110from the raised position to the lowered position, the process is reversed. The rearward end of deck110is manually pulled downward compressing the rearmost prop140and pivoting the forward end of the deck off of support brackets160. Next, deck110is pulled gently downward at an angular orientation compressing props140until the rearward end of deck110reaches the bottom of upright rails130and stop pins152reach notches133. Lastly, the forward end of deck110is pivoted downward to rest deck110atop pads118of side support120and seat stop pins152within notches133against edge shoulder134. Props140are fully compressed when deck110is in the lowered position. It should be noted that stop pins152ensure the proper order of operation for raising and lowering deck110. With stop pins152seated within notches133, the rearward end of deck110can only be raised after the forward end of deck110is lifted into an angular orientation. Similarly, when moving toward the lowered position, the rearward end of deck110must be fully lowered before the forward end of deck110can be pivoted downward. Stop pin152and the configuration of notches133and the channel edges136and138help ensure smooth operation, as well as the proper order of operation when raising and lowering deck110.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The embodiment of the present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.