Abstract:
A personnel platform for installation on a cargo truck comprises a mounting bracket securely fastened to a framing structure of the cargo truck beneath a personnel door, a platform deck mounted to a sliding mechanism securely fastened to the mounting bracket, wherein the platform deck is operable to be slidably configured in a stowed position beneath the cargo truck and a deployed position extending substantially horizontally beyond the cargo truck, and a latching mechanism operable to lock the platform deck in one of the stowed position and the deployed position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/767,897, entitled “Cargo Truck Extendable Personnel Platform,” filed on Feb. 22, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure primarily relates to an extendable personnel platform for a cargo truck and other vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    According to the United States Department of Transportation, over twelve thousand million tons of freight were transported by trucks in the United States in 2010. The trucking industry provides an essential service to the American economy by transporting large quantities of raw materials, works in process, and finished goods over land—typically from manufacturing plants to retail distribution centers. Some cargo trucks are equipped with a side personnel door for ease of access to the cargo compartment. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The present disclosure describes various embodiments illustrated in the drawing figures in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0005]      FIGS. 1A-1C  are perspective views of the deployment of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform equipped with a two-step ladder accessory in the stowed position according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform equipped with a three-step ladder accessory in the stowed position according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform equipped with a two-step ladder accessory in the fully-deployed position according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform equipped with a three-step ladder accessory in the fully-deployed position according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 7-10  are various views illustrating the stages of deployment of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform according to the teachings of the present disclosure; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform equipped with a three-step ladder and guard rail accessories according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The present disclosure is directed to a multi-stage extendable personnel platform for installation on a cargo truck to permit personnel to easily access compartments and cargo through the body side door and enable staging cargo for delivery. The mounting envelope of the platform is small enough to allow the unit to be mounted underneath the cargo body of straight trucks (body on frame construction) in addition to trailers. Since the unit is designed for under-body mounting it does not require extensive body structure or floor modifications and may be installed as an accessory item as well as being able to be offered as truck or trailer original equipment. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1A-1C  are perspective views of the deployment of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform  10  according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The multi-stage extendable personnel platform  10  includes a mounting bracket  12  that is mounted to a cargo truck. The mounting bracket  12  is adapted to be mounted to the frame or other rigid structures under the body of a cargo truck. The platform  10  is designed to be installed under a side door sill and truck body cross bar. The platform mounting envelope is sized to be easily accommodated within the existing framework of the truck body so that no substantial alteration to the trailer is needed. The mounting bracket  12  accommodates a deck  14  that is mounted to a sliding mechanism  16  of the mounting bracket  12 . The sliding mechanism  16  enables the deck  14  to be within the mounting bracket  12  under the truck body in a stowed position, and slide out from the mounting bracket  12  in the fully-extended deployed position. Any suitable sliding mechanism using sturdy sliding rails, bearings, etc. may be used. The sliding mechanism  16  is mounted to the mounting bracket  12  that securely fastens the platform  10  to the truck body framing structure. A latching mechanism to be described in more detail below is used to engage and lock the platform deck  14  in either position. 
         [0015]    The multi-stage extendable personnel platform  10  may be equipped with a ladder accessory  18 . The ladder accessory  18  includes a mount  20  that may be securely bolted underneath the deck  14 . A ladder is slidably engaged in the slots  24  defined in the side rails  22  to enable the ladder to be stowed under the deck  14  or be fully-extended and lowered for use. The slots  24  define a detent  26  into which a first crossbar  28  of the ladder rests while it is stowed. The first crossbar  28  is slidably engaged with the slots  24  to enable the ladder to be stowed or extended. The first crossbar  28  may be securely engaged in the slots  24  using cotter pins or other suitable means. A second crossbar  30  securely fastened across the lower end of the side rails  22  supports the ladder and prevents further rotation about the first crossbar  28  when the ladder is in the fully-extended position. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1A  shows the platform  10  in the fully-stowed position,  FIG. 1B  shows the deck  14  to be fully-deployed in the extended position, and  FIG. 1C  shows a two-step ladder accessory  18  mounted under the deck  14  in the fully-extended and lowered position.  FIGS. 1A-1C  shows a two-step ladder accessory with steps  32  and  33 .  FIG. 2  is another perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the multi-stage extendable personnel platform  10  with a two-step ladder accessory in the fully-stowed position. It may be seen in these figures that the deck and ladder steps are preferably constructed with a non-slippery configuration or material, such as aluminum, steel, and fiberglass. Alternatively, the deck and ladder steps may be surfaced with slippery resistant coatings to reduce or eliminate the risk of falls. 
         [0017]    Although the ladder accessory is shown to extend and deploy along an axis perpendicular to the deployment axis of the personnel deck, other configurations are also contemplated. Such as configuring the ladder accessory extension to be along the same axis as the platform deck, or providing a mount for the ladder accessory that can be pivoted or rotated to different angles relative to the personnel platform for ease of use in tight or awkward spaces. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the multi-stage extendable personnel platform  10  equipped with the two-step ladder accessory  18  in the stowed position according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The platform is preferably installed under the body of a cargo truck beneath a personnel side door.  FIG. 5  shows the same two-step ladder accessory  18  in the fully extended position. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform  40  equipped with a three-step ladder accessory  42  in the stowed position according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The ladder accessory  42  includes a mount  44  that may be securely bolted underneath the deck  14 . A ladder is slidably engaged in the slots  46  defined in the side rails  48  to enable the ladder to be stowed under the deck  14  or be fully-extended and lowered for use. The ladder includes a first crossbar  50  that is slidably engaged with the slots  46  to enable the ladder to be stowed or extended. A second crossbar  52  securely fastened to the side rails  48  supports the ladder and prevents further rotation about the first crossbar  50  in the fully-extended position. This ladder accessory  42  includes three steps  54 - 56 .  FIG. 6  shows the same three-step ladder accessory  42  in the fully extended position. In this view, the detent  58  defined in the slots  46  are clearly visible. The detent  58  serves to catch and retain the first crossbar  50  while the stowed position. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 7-10  are various views illustrating the stages of deployment of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The deck  14  can be released and extended by pulling on a lever  60  located under the deck  14 . The lever  60  releases a latching mechanism that securely locks the deck  14  in the stowed position while not in use. When the user activates the release lever  60 , the deck  14  can be pulled out from the mounting bracket  12  and truck body, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . When the deck  14  reaches the fully-extended position, the latch mechanism again securely locks the deck  14  in the extended position, until the user activates the release lever  60  again to return it to the stowed position. 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 9 , the user is shown partially deploying the ladder from under the deck  14  by pulling the ladder so that the first crossbar  50  disengages from the detent  58  and slides along the slots  46  defined in the side rails  44 . The user may continue to pull the ladder out from under the deck  14  until the first crossbar  50  reaches the lower end of the slots  46 . The user may then lower the ladder and allow it to rest upon the second crossbar  52  disposed across the lower end of the side rails  44 . The second crossbar  52  supports the ladder and prevents further rotation about the first crossbar  50  when the ladder is in the fully-extended position. 
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-stage extendable personnel platform  40  equipped with a three-step ladder and guard rail accessories according to the teachings of the present disclosure. In addition to the ladder accessory, the platform may be equipped with a rail accessory  62 , one example of which is shown in  FIG. 11 . The rail accessory  62  may include one or more vertical posts  64  that can be inserted and securely seated in special openings in the deck  14  after the platform and ladder are fully deployed. Horizontal posts or other forms of support, such as a chain  66  as shown in  FIG. 11 , form a hand railing between the vertical posts  64 . The rail accessory  62  is designed to be easily installed whenever needed, and is adapted to provide lateral support to the user for added safety when needed. 
         [0023]    Constructed in the manner described herein, the platform and the ladder and railing accessories provide a sturdy access route to the cargo compartment that can be easily deployed. When not in use, the platform and accessories are stowed out of the way and out of sight within a small confined mounting envelope. The platform mounting envelope is sized to be easily accommodated within the existing framework of the truck body so that no substantial alteration to the trailer is needed. The platform is also sized, configured, and rated for staging cargo via the personnel side door. Typically the trailers are filled to the maximum with cargo, leaving very little space for workers to stage the cargo for unloading. 
         [0024]    The personnel platform and accessories may be installed on a cargo truck, as described herein, and also finds application with other forms of vehicles such as recreational vehicles, fire trucks, emergency vehicles, etc. where easy-deployable access for personnel is needed. The personnel platform and accessories may even be used on stationary structures where needed. 
         [0025]    The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the cargo truck multi-stage extendable personnel platform described herein thus encompasses such modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein.