Abstract:
A support platform for a truck of the type utilized for pulling a semi-trailer includes at least one horizontal support surface and at least one step depending from the horizontal surface. The platform allows a truck driver to safety access truck accessories that are typically mounted on the back side of the truck cab. A taillight assembly may optionally be attached to a rear portion of the support platform.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This application is directed to a support platform which is designed to be attached to the truck cab portion of a semi-trailer truck. The platform extends over the open wheels of the truck and includes a downwardly extending step portion to permit access to the platform. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Currently the open wheels of the truck cab portion of a semi-trailer truck are either uncovered or covered by arcuate fenders. Items such as chains and strapping devices are attached to the exterior rear wall of the truck cab. Drivers struggle to find sound footing while attempting to store or retrieve items on the cab wall. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The current invention overcomes the problems associated with the prior art by providing a generally horizontal platform for stability and a step portion to enable the driver of a semi-trailer truck to access the area behind the cab portion of the truck. The platform may extend on one or both sides of the truck and may cover the front or both the front and rear wheel sets of the truck. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a truck outfitted with a support platform according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the truck and platform shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a truck outfitted according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the truck and platform shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a truck and platform according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the support platform shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  illustrates a particular arrangement for securing the support platform to the truck. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the invention is shown outfitted to a truck  10  that is the driving vehicle for a semi-trailer truck for example a semi-trailer truck commonly referred to as an eighteen wheeler. 
         [0015]    Truck  10  includes a cab portion  11  and a rack  12  supported on the truck. Rack  12  may serve as a support for items such as chains  13  and ratchets  14  and a tool box  15  which are often used as accessories for the semi-trailer. 
         [0016]    A support platform as shown in  FIG. 1  include a first generally horizontal plate member  19 , an inclined plate portion  21  and a second generally horizontal plate portion  20 . One or more steps  22  extend between supports  9  and  8  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The support platform may be attached to a frame member  35  of the truck by suitable braces  36  and  37  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Thus the support platform is supported in a cantilever fashion from the truck frame. Other methods of securing the support platform to the truck may be employed. For example, apertures may be provided in the frame beams  35  and  31  which may be utilized for bolting the support platform to the truck. 
         [0017]    A similar platform including plates  17 ,  18  and  16  may be provided on the right side of the truck as shown in  FIG. 1 . Plates  19  and  16  are sized so as to cover the widths of wheel pairs  23  and  28 . They also are of a length to cover the diameters of the wheels as shown in  FIG. 2 . A support bar  101  is positioned between and welded to plates  16  and  19 . Brackets similar to  36  may extend from frame members  31  and  35  to further support bar  101 . 
         [0018]    Truck  10  also includes a fifth wheel  25  with ramps  26  and  27  leading to it and cross frame members  33  and  34 . Third and fourth wheel pairs  24  and  29  may also be provided. 
         [0019]    A second embodiment of a support platform according to the invention is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This embodiment is similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , however, in addition to plates  20 ,  21  and  19 , the support platform also includes an included portion  41 , a horizontal portion  42  that extends between wheel pairs  23  and  24 , an inclined portion  73  and a third horizontal plate  43  that extends above wheel pair  24  and two downwardly extending inclined portions  44  and  45 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , portion  45  extends rearwardly of wheel pair  24 . 
         [0020]    As in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a second support platform includes plates  61 ,  46 ,  47 ,  74 ,  48 ,  49  and  50  may extend on the right side of the truck. Each support platform may be supported in a cantilever fashion by support brackets  37 ,  38 ,  98  and  99  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Tail light housings  52  and  51  may be attached to plate members  45  and  50  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Tail light assemblies  53  and  54  are mounted within the tail light housings. A central plate  63  may be positioned between plate members  17  and  20  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Plate  63  can be mounted to the truck in any suitable fashion. A support bar similar to  101  may also extend between plates  62  and  61 . Brackets may be used for further support. They may extend between the plates  62  and  61  and frame members  26  and  27 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 5-7  illustrate a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the support platform  80  includes horizontal plates  83  and  81  connected by an inclined plate  82 . A pair of stairs  84  are supported below and to the side of plate  83  by vertical bars  85  and  86  attached to plate  83 . Plates  81 ,  82  and  83  as well as the plates illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  may be formed of diamond cut sheet metal of a suitable thickness, between ⅛″ to ½″ for example. The metal may be steel or aluminum or any suitable strength metal alloy. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 7  horizontal plate  81  as well as any of the plates shown in the various embodiments may include a top plate  81  and depending frame members  91  and  92  which act as a splash guard for the wheels of the truck in rainy conditions. 
         [0023]    A mounting arrangement for the support platform is shown in  FIG. 8 . Fifth wheel  25  is supported by a support frame  103  which is secured to both sides of the truck frame  31  and  35  by a plurality of bolts  104 . A rod member  101  is fixed to the fifth wheel support frame by welding for example. A pair of U bolts  102  extending through plate  42  and are secured to the underside of plate  42  by nuts. Thus rod member  101  provides additional support for the support platform. Additionally, depending upon the length of support from  103 , braces  37  and  36  and braces  98  and  99  can also be welded to the support frame  103 . 
         [0024]    Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention, except to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.