Patent Publication Number: US-9404305-B1

Title: Portable and adaptable platform

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a portable platform which is adaptable and adjustable for supporting ladders, workers, and/or equipment in stairwells and on roofs, or on sloped or terraced yards, sloped driveways, and other surfaces having pitch angles ranging from low to steep. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A need exists for a sturdy, portable platform which can be used to support ladders, workers, and/or equipment on roofs, on stairs, in stairwells, on sloped driveways, on terraced yards, and on other sloped or angled surfaces when painting or when doing repair, maintenance, construction, roofing, decorating, or other work. The sturdy, portable platform will preferable be collapsible for easy transport and storage. The platform will also preferably be adjustable to adapt to substantially any pitch angle of the base surface ranging from low to steep while providing optimum safety and stability which meets and preferably exceeds government standards. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a sturdy, portable platform apparatus which satisfies the needs discussed above. 
     In one aspect, there is provided a platform apparatus comprising: a deck structure; a ladder structure; and at least one hinge element which pivotably connects the ladder structure to the deck structure. The hinge element can be locked in a plurality of different pivot angles of the ladder structure with respect to the deck structure which are in a range of from about 105° to about 150°. 
     Further aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon examining the accompanying drawings and upon reading the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment 2 of a portable platform apparatus provided by the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational side view of the inventive platform apparatus  2  in folded position for storage or transport. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a section of the inventive platform apparatus  2  showing angle indicia  78  provided on a locking hinge  64  or  66  of the apparatus  2  and extension length indicia provided on an extendable ladder structure  6  of the apparatus  2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a platform deck panel  20  preferred for use in the inventive platform apparatus  2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment 2 of the portable platform apparatus provided by the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . The platform apparatus  2  preferably comprises an extendable platform deck structure  4  and an extendable ladder structure  6  which is pivotably connected to the platform deck structure  4 . 
     The extendable platform deck structure  4  preferably comprises (a) a deck  14  installed between a pair of deck side rails  16  and  18  and (b) a pair of adjustable platform extensions  10  and  12  which are slidably installed on the side rails  16  and  18 . The deck side rails  16  and  18  will preferably be parallel but can alternatively diverge or converge toward or away from each other. The deck  14  can be formed of any material and/or deck components which are capable of supporting ladders, workers, and/or equipment when performing painting, construction, repair, maintenance, or other operations of this type. 
     The adjustable platform extensions  10  and  12  are preferably a pair of rail structures having (a) rearward portions  13  and  15  which are slidably installed on the deck side rails  16  and  18 , (b) forward portions  17  and  19  which preferably diverge outwardly at an angle of at least 5° and more preferably from about 5° to about 20° and (c) forward contact elements  29  and  31  which, when the platform extensions are in either an extended or a non-extended position, will preferably rest on the roof, stairs, or other base surface upon which the inventive platform apparatus is deployed. The structure of the contacting elements  29  and  31  can by the same as the structure of the base contacting elements  68  and  70  discussed below. 
     As further discussed below, the platform extensions  10  and  12  can be particularly desirable for use, for example, when deploying the inventive platform apparatus  2  on a low pitch roof or other surface or structure having a low angle of incline (i.e., a low pitch angle). 
     To lock the platform extensions  10  and  12  into extended and/or retracted positions, the rearward portions  13  and  15  of the extensions  10  and  12  preferably each include a hole or slot  21  or  23  provided therein which can be aligned with one or a series of discrete holes, slots, or other mating features  25  formed in or through the distal (forward) end sections of the deck side rails  16  and  18  for receiving a locking pin or other locking element. To allow the platform extensions  10  and  12  to be locked into extended or retracted positions over a range of distances, each of the deck side rails  16  and  18  preferably includes a plurality (most preferably at least 3) of the extension apertures  25  spaced from about 1 to about 4 or more inches apart. 
     It will be understood, however, that clamps or other locking mechanisms could alternatively be used and that, instead of being lockable only in discrete positions  25 , the platform extensions  10  and  12  could instead be lockable at substantially any point along a continuum extending from a non-extended position to a fully extended position. 
     In addition, as another alternative, the rearward portions  13  and  15  of the extensions  10  and  12  could include permanently installed retractable pins or other mechanisms which could be aligned with the holes, slots, or other mating features  25  of the deck side rails  16  and  18 . 
     Also, it will be understood that the locking features of the extensions  10  and  12  and the deck side rails  16  and  18  can be reversed. 
     For strength and reduced weight, the deck  14  will preferably be formed of a plurality of interlocking aluminum panels or planks  20  installed between the deck side rails  16  and  18 . Examples of such aluminum panels or planks  20  would include the interlocking aluminum “Reefer” planks and other types of interlocking aluminum planks which are commercially available from Ohio Gratings, Inc. An aperture  22  is preferable provide through the panel or plank at the forward end  24  of the deck  14  for receiving a rope, cord, or other member which could be used, for example, as a tie-off to further prevent the inventive platform apparatus  2  from sliding downward when the platform apparatus  2  is in use on a roof or other inclined surface. 
     The extendable ladder structure  6  preferably comprises (a) one or more (preferably two) steps  26  attached between a pair of ladder side rails  28  and  30  and (b) an adjustable extension assembly  8 . The steps  26  can be rungs, panels, or steps of any other type used, for example, on regular ladders, extension ladders, step ladders, etc. To simplify the structure and operation of the ladder extension assembly  8 , the ladder side rails  28  and  30  are preferably parallel. 
     The ladder extension assembly  8  preferably comprises a pair of rail structures  32  and  34  having (a) upper portions  36  and  38  which are slidably installed on the ladder side rails  28  and  30  and (b) lower portions  40  and  42  which preferably diverge outwardly at an angle of at least 5°, more preferably from about 5° to about 20°, to provide increased stability. To facilitate the sliding adjustment of the ladder extension assembly  8 , the upper portions  36  and  38  of the extension side rails  32  and  34  are preferably parallel. The ladder extension assembly  8  preferably also includes a plurality of steps  44  of the same type discussed above (e.g., rungs, step panels, etc.) connected between the extension rail structures  32  and  34 . 
     To lock the ladder extension assembly into extended and/or retracted positions, the upper portions  36  and  38  of the extension assembly side rail structures  32  and  34  preferably each include a hole or slot  46  or  48  provided therein which can be aligned with one or a series of discrete holes, slots, or other mating features  50  formed in or through the ladder side rails  28  and  30  for receiving a locking pin or other locking element. To allow the ladder extension assembly  8  to be locked in extended or retracted positions over a range of distances, each of the ladder side rails  28  and  30  preferably includes a plurality (most preferably at least 3) of the extension apertures  50  spaced from about 1 to about 4 or more inches apart. 
     It will be understood, however, that clamps or other locking mechanisms could alternatively be used and that, instead of being lockable only in a plurality of discrete positions, the ladder extension assembly  8  could instead be lockable at substantially any point along a continuum extending from a non-extended position to a fully extended position. 
     In addition, as another alternative, the upper portions  36  and  38  of the extension assembly rail structures  32  and  34  could include permanently installed retractable pins or other mechanisms which could be aligned with the holes, slots, or other mating locking features  50  of the ladder side rails  28  and  30 . 
     Also, it will be understood that the locking features of the extension assembly rail structures and  32  and  34  and the ladder side rails  28  and  30  can be reversed. 
     Generally any type of lockable hinge, or combination of hinges, can be used for pivotably connecting the platform deck structure  4  to the ladder structure  6 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the proximal (rearward) ends  56  and  58  of the deck side rails  16  and  18  will preferably be pivotably connected to the upper ends  60  and  62  of the ladder side rails  28  and  30  using a pair of locking hinges  64  and  66  which are lockable in a plurality of different pivoted positions (i.e., at a plurality of different pivot angles of the platform deck structure  4  with respect to the ladder structure  6 ). 
     The locking hinges  64  and  66  will preferably have pivot settings which will allow the platform deck structure  4  to be locked with respect to the ladder structure  6  at angles of up to at least 130°, or more preferably up to at least 135° or 140° and still more preferably up to at least 145°. Most preferably, the locking hinges  64  and  66  will have pivot settings which will allow the platform deck structure  4  to be locked with respect to the ladder structure  6  at a plurality of different angles located within a range beginning at from about 105° to about 115° and ending at from about 140° to about 150°. In addition, although the locking hinges  64  and  66  will preferably be operable for locking the deck structure  4  with respect to the ladder structure at a plurality of predetermined discrete angles over these ranges, the inventive apparatus  2  can alternatively be operable for locking the deck structure  4  with respect to the ladder structure  6  at substantially any angle along a continuum preferably extending at least from a starting point in the range of from about 105° to about 115° to an ending point of from about 140° to about 150°. 
     The ladder extension assembly also preferably comprises a pair of base contacting elements  68  and  70  on the lower ends of the ladder extension side rails  28  and  30  for contacting the roof, steps, or other sloped surface upon which the inventive platform assembly  2  is placed. The base contacting elements  68  and  70  can be rounded rubber or plastic pads, pivotable feet, or any other type of base contacting elements used on ladders of any type. 
     It is more preferred, however, that the base contacting elements  68  and  70  used on the inventive platform apparatus  2  be continuously sloping elements of the type illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The continuously sloping elements  68  and  78  have a base contacting surface  72  which is preferably in the shape of a segment of a circle. Preferably, the semicircular contacting surface  72  is oriented and extends over an arch length which is sufficient such that when (a) the platform deck structure  4  is deployed in horizontal position, (b) the base contacting elements are placed on a flight of stairs, a roof or other sloped surface having a pitch angle of up to at least 50° or up to at least 55°, and (c) the platform deck structure  4  is positioned with respect to the ladder structure  6  at any angle within the range of from 115° to 140° (more preferably from 110° to 145° and most preferably from 105° to 150°), the semicircular contacting surfaces  72  of the contacting elements  68  and  70  will rest upon and contact the base surface upon which the inventive platform apparatus  2  is placed. 
     In addition, to provide a desirably large frictional contact area between the semicircular contacting surfaces  72  and the stairs, roof, or other base surface upon which they are placed, the radius of curvature  74  of the semicircular contacting surfaces  72  will preferably be at least 3 inches, will more preferably be at least 4 inches, and will more preferably be at least 5 inches. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when the inventive platform apparatus  2  is folded for storage or transport, the platform deck structure  4  and the ladder structure  6  will preferably be parallel or at least substantially parallel (i.e., +5°). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , one or both of the locking hinges  64  and  66  of the inventive platform apparatus  2  will preferably have angle indicia  78  provided thereon which correspond to and identify a plurality of lockable pivoted positions of the platform deck structure  4  with respect to the ladder structure  6 . The angle indicia  78  can identify these different pivoted positions using letters, numbers, the actual pivot angles in degrees, or other identifiers. 
     Similarly, as further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it is also preferred that extension length indicia  80  be provided on either or both of the ladder side rails  28  and/or  30 , or on either or both of the ladder extension side rails  32  and/or  34 , which correspond to and identify a plurality of lockable extension lengths of the ladder structure  6 . The extension length indicia  80  will preferably correspond to the series of ladder extension apertures  50  provided in the ladder side rails  28  and  30  or alternatively in the extension side rails  32  and  34 . The extension length indicia  80  can identify these different extension lengths using letters, numbers, the actual extension lengths, or other identifiers. 
     Moreover, it is preferred that some or all of the pivot angles identified by the angle indicia  78  and the extension lengths identified by the extension length indicia  80  be set such that a predetermined combination of one of the angle indicia  78  and one of the extension length indicia  80  will place the deck  14  of the inventive apparatus  2  in horizontal position at a pivot angle of the inventive apparatus  2  of at least 105° but not more than 150° on a sloped base surface (e.g., a roof or a set of stairs) having a pitch angle of 45° (i.e., a pitch of 12 inches down per 12 inches out). 
     In addition, it is also preferred that a different predetermined combination of one of the angle indicia  78  and one of the extension length indicia  80  will place the deck  14  in horizontal position at a pivot angle of the inventive apparatus  2  of at least 105° but not more than 150° on a sloped base surface having a pitch of 10 inches down per 12 inches out. 
     Further, it is also preferred that another predetermined combination of one of the angle indicia  78  and one of the extension length indicia  80  will place the deck  14  of the inventive apparatus  2  in horizontal position at a pivot angle of the inventive apparatus  2  of at least 105° but not more than 150° on a sloped base surface having a pitch of 8 inches down per 12 inches out. 
     Similarly, it is also preferred that yet another predetermined combination of one of the angle indicia  78  and one of the extension length indicia  80  will place the deck  14  of the inventive apparatus  2  in horizontal position at a pivot angle of the inventive apparatus  2  of at least 105° but not more than 150° on a sloped base surface having a pitch of 14 inches down per 12 inches out. 
     The relative length of the non-extended platform deck structure  4  with respect to the length of the non-extended ladder structure  6  will preferably be in the range of from about 80% to about 105% and will most preferably be about 92%. The relative length of the non-extended platform deck structure  4  with respect to the length of the fully extended ladder structure  6  will preferably be in the range of from about 50% to about 80% and will most preferably be about 68%. The relative length of the fully extended platform deck structure  4  with respect to the non-extended ladder structure  6  will preferably be in the range of from about 100% to about 140% and will most preferably be about 128%. The relative length of the fully extended platform deck structure  4  with respect to the fully extended ladder structure  6  will preferably be in the range of from about 80% to about 105% and will most preferably be about 94%. 
     Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within this invention as defined by the claims.