Patent Publication Number: US-2022220790-A1

Title: Structure access system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is the non-provisional, utility application of provisional application U.S. App. No. 63/137,613, filed on Jan. 14, 2021, and claims priority thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many types of tall structures require top entrance. One example of such a structure is a silo. Silos are used in agriculture to store grain or silage, but they may also be used in many contexts to store any number of other products. Many kinds of silos are filled with product at a top entrance using a long, ground-based spiral auger. Such filling requires that a user climb the silo to open the top entrance and position the auger. When this process is done, the user must again climb the silo to close the top entrance. 
     The operations described above may present several undesirable conditions. First, the mere fact that a user is required to climb up and down a tall structure to perform operations may be time consuming and inefficient. Second, climbing a tall structure may be difficult for many users. Third, a user that is required to scale a tall structure is exposed to falling danger, bodily injury, or even death. 
     Despite the long-use of tall structures such as silos, little has been invented to mitigate the undesirable conditions described. Designs continue to require that a user scale the structure to open and close a top entrance and to perform filling operations. What is needed is a reliable structure access system that allows a user to open and close a top entrance and to perform filling operations without having to climb the structure. Such a system would increase efficiency and ease of operation and reduce the risk of bodily injury or death. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the above, a new and innovative structure access system is provided for structure access above a user&#39;s ground-standing reach. Specifically, the structure access system allows a user at ground level to open and close an access on a top of a structure—typically one for storage of bulk materials like a silo—and includes: a pivotable lever; a first elongate member with first and second ends, the first elongate member pivotally attached to the lever at the first elongate member first end; a rocker arm pivotally attached to the first elongate member second end; a second elongate member with first and second ends, the second elongate member pivotally attached to the rocker arm at the second elongate member first end; and a top entrance mount to which the second elongate member is pivotally attached at the second elongate member second end. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claim, or they may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       To further clarify the above and other aspects of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The drawings may not be drawn to scale. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a structure access system in a first position. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a lower portion of one embodiment of a structure access system. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a middle portion of one embodiment of a structure access system. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an upper portion of one embodiment of a structure access system. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of one embodiment of a structure access system in a second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention in its various embodiments, some of which are depicted in the figures herein, is a structure access system. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of an exemplary structure access system  100  is shown. Structure access system  100  is shown in a silo structure  101  environment with a top entrance  108 , although many other structure types needing top access may also be employed. In certain embodiments, silo structure  101  and/or top entrance  108  may be included in the embodiment. Structure access system  100  is shown in a closed position A, or a position wherein the top entrance  108  is closed (see also  FIG. 5  showing the system in open position B wherein the top entrance  108  is open). The system  100  includes a pivotable lever  102  for opening and closing the top entrance  108  by a user who is at or adjacent to ground level. A first elongate member  104  with first and second ends is pivotally attached to the pivotable lever  102  at the first elongate member first end. A rocker arm  105  is pivotally attached to the silo  101  and first elongate member second end. A second elongate member  106  with first and second ends is pivotally attached to the rocker arm  105  at the second elongate member first end. The second elongate member  106  is pivotally attached at the second elongate member second end to a top entrance mount  107  that is secured to the top entrance  108 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a lower portion  200  of one embodiment of a structure access system  100  is shown. Pivotable lever  102  is preferably positioned within the reach of a user at ground level. Pivotable lever  102  is attached to a silo structure  101  through a mounting plate  201  adjacent to a pivotable lever first end  202 . Pivotable lever  102  has a first elongate member mount  207  between first  202  and second  206  pivotable lever ends for pivotally attaching the first elongate member  104  at a first elongate member first end. In the illustrated embodiment, first elongate member  104  is generally positioned parallel to vertical axis of the silo structure  101 . Elongate member  104  is typically a metal rod, although it may be made of other materials without departing from the purpose and scope of the invention. 
     Mounting plate  201  may be comprised of two or more opposing plates bounding the pivotable lever  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, pivotable lever  102  moves in a vertical plane along an axis that is perpendicular to the pivot. Mounting plate  201  may have a plurality of fasteners  203  for affixing the mounting plate  201  to the silo structure  101 . Mounting plate  201  may have one or more spacers and/or stops  204 ,  205  for facilitating or controlling the travel of the pivotable lever  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, stops  204 ,  205  lock the pivotable lever  102  with a removable pin and clip. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting plate  201  may be approximately 12.5 inches high, 6.25 inches in depth, and 4 inches in width, with around 10.5 inches of lever travel, although these measurements may vary without departing from the purpose and scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a middle portion  300  of one embodiment of a structure access system  100  is shown. First elongate member  104  attaches to a rocker arm  105  at a first elongate member second end. Rocker arm  105  is preferably attached at a position adjacent to the top of a side of the silo structure  101 , and, as with mounting plate  201 , it may be comprised of two or more opposing plates. Second elongate member  106  with first and second ends is pivotally attached to the rocker arm  105  at the second elongate member first end. As with first elongate member  104 , second elongate member is typically a metal rod, although it may be made of other materials without departing from the purpose and scope of the invention. 
     Rocker arm  105  is configured to translate vertical movement from first elongate member  104  (typically initiated by movement of the pivotable lever  102 ) to a more horizontal angle. This is accomplished by the unique configuration of the rocker arm  105  and its various connections to other components. More specifically, rocker arm may be configured as a rounded isosceles triangle with connections adjacent each of its base and vertex angles. A first connection  304  adjacent a first base angle pivotally attaches the rocker arm  105  to the silo structure  101 . Entire rocker arm  105  is pivotable about this first connection  304 . A second connection  301  adjacent a vertex angle pivotally attaches the rocker arm  105  to the first elongate member  104 . A third connection  303  adjacent a second base angle pivotally attaches the rocker arm  105  to the second elongate member  106 . In the illustrated embodiment, the rocker arm may be approximately 14 inches long at its longest edge and 8 inches in depth, although these measurements may vary without departing from the purpose and scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an upper portion  400  of one embodiment of a structure access system  100  is shown. Second elongate member  106  is pivotally attached to top entrance mount  107  at the second elongate member second end. In the illustrated embodiment, the top entrance  107  is approximately 8 inches high and 10 inches long at its longest edge. Second elongate member  106  attaches to an upper location of the top entrance mount  107  so that there is sufficient leverage from movement at the horizontal angle to open and/or close the top entrance  108 . In various embodiments, the invention may also include a hinge  402  adjacent the top entrance. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , in the illustrated embodiment, pivotable lever  102  is in an upwards position when the top entrance  108  is closed. As a user pulls pivotable lever  102  downwards, first elongate member  104  moves downward and rocker arm  105  translates this movement along a more horizontal angle, pulling the top entrance mount  107  to open the top entrance  108 . In  FIG. 5 , the structure access system  100  is shown in an open position B. In various embodiments locking means may be used to releasably maintain structure access system  100  in closed, open, or intermediate positions. 
     Thus configured, a reliable structure access system is provided that allows a user to open and close a top entrance and to perform filling operations without having to climb the structure, thereby increasing efficiency and ease of operation and reducing the risk of bodily injury or death. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.