Elevated working platform and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10815728-B2
Application number	US-201816198437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2018
Priority date	Feb 5, 2016
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

Elevated work platform apparatuses, as well as associated methods, are provided. In one particular embodiment, an elevated platform apparatus is provided comprising a first assembly having a pair of rails coupled with a plurality of rungs, a second assembly hingedly coupled with the first assembly, a platform pivotally coupled with the first assembly and configured to extend to, and engage a portion of, the second assembly. The apparatus further includes a cage associated with the platform. The cage may include at least one bar and at least one gate, the at least one gate being configured to swing in a first direction upon a user stepping on to the platform from the first rail assembly, and then swing back to a closed position after the user is standing on the platform. platform includes a toe-kick structure that is collapsible relative to the deck of the platform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elevated platform apparatus comprising:
a first assembly having a pair of rails coupled with a plurality of rungs;
a second assembly having a pair of rails, wherein the first assembly and the second assembly are configured to pivot relative to each other about at least one hinge member between a deployed state and a collapsed state;
a platform pivotally coupled to the first assembly, wherein when the first and second assemblies are in the deployed state, the platform extends from the first assembly and engages a portion of the second assembly;
a cage associated with the platform, the cage including:
a pair of extension members, each extension member including a first member and a second member telescopingly coupled with the first member, the first member having a bottom terminal end, the bottom terminal end of the first member being pivotally coupled with an associated rail of the pair of rails of the first assembly,
an upper bar pivotally coupled with the pair of extension members and also pivotally coupled with the pair of rails of the first assembly,
a lower bar pivotally coupled with the pair of rails of the second assembly,
at least one gate coupled with at least one of the pair of extension members;

at least one first link member having a first end pivotally coupled with the second assembly and a second end pivotally coupled with the platform;
at least one second link member having a first end pivotally coupled with the lower bar and a second end pivotally coupled with the platform, wherein the second end of the at least one first link member and the second end of the at least one second link member share a common point of pivotal connection with the platform.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a deck and a toe-kick structure, the toe-kick structure including at least one wall configured to be displaced between a first position, wherein the at least one wall extends outward from a working surface of the deck at a substantially perpendicular angle, and a second position, wherein the at least one wall is positioned substantially flat against the working surface of the deck.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to maintain the at least one side wall in the first position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch member associated with the at least one wall and configured to engage the at least one second link member.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one wall includes a first side wall, a second side wall and an end wall.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are formed of a substantially rigid material and are pivotally coupled with the deck.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the end wall comprises a foldable material.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the end wall comprises nylon.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of extension members exhibit a first length when the first assembly and the second assembly are placed in the collapsed state and exhibit a second length with the first assembly and second assembly are placed in the deployed state, the first length being shorter than the second length.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least gate is configured to swing in a first rotational direction from a closed position to an open position, the at least one gate being limited from being displaced in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, beyond the closed position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one gate includes a pair of gates adjacent one another.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pair of wheels coupled with the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels is coupled with an associated rail of the pair of rails of the second assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels is pivotally coupled with its associated rail such that each wheel is selectively positionable between a first position relative to its associated rail and a second position relative to its associated rail, wherein, when in the second position, the at least one pair of wheels are positioned substantially within a volumetric envelope defined by the pair of rails of the second assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, when the first assembly and the second assembly are in the collapsed state, the pair of extension members and the upper bar extend in a substantially common plane.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein when the first assembly and the second assembly are in the collapsed state, the upper bar extends beyond an uppermost portion of the first pair of rails.

Assignees

• Wing Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Russell Brian
• Moss N Ryan

Classifications

• E06C1/20

  with supporting struts formed as poles {(stabilising struts E06C7/423)} · CPC title

• E06C1/16

  with {hinged} struts which rest on the ground (with struts rigid with the ladder E06C1/24; having platforms E06C1/39) · CPC title

• E06C1/397

  characterised by having wheels, rollers, or runners · CPC title

• E06C7/182

  situated at the top of the ladder · CPC title

• E06C1/393 Primary

  Ladders having platforms foldable with the ladder · CPC title