Stairway work platform and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12320133-B2
Application number	US-202117362901-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2021
Priority date	Jul 2, 2020
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A stairway work platform for a user includes a plank, a first leg assembly attached in proximity to a first end of the plank. The work platform includes an end pad directly attached to the first end of the plank which prevents damage to a vertical rise area of the stairway. The work platform includes a first bottom pad directly attached to a front of a first leg of the first leg assembly which prevents damage to a horizontal run area of the stairway while supporting a weight of the user. The work platform includes a second bottom pad directly attached to a front of a second leg of the first leg assembly which prevents damage to the horizontal run area of the stairway while supporting the weight of the user. The work platform includes a hinge bracket attached to the plank in proximity to the first end of the plank and to the first leg of the first leg assembly. In a stairway mode, the first leg assembly is in the closed position and is adapted to be disposed on a stair of the stairway and a second leg assembly is extended to a position which makes the plank level with respect to ground. A method for using a work platform. An end pad. A side-bottom pad.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stairway work platform for a user comprising:
a plank extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end;
a first leg assembly attached in proximity to the first end of the plank, the first leg assembly having a first leg and a second leg opposite the first leg, and a step attached to the first and second legs;
an end pad permanently attached to the first end of the plank, the end pad including a top section, a bottom section, and a middle section covering a top portion, a bottom portion, and a side portion of the first end of the plank, the end pad molded of a material to prevent damage to a vertical rise area of the stairway;
a first bottom pad attached to a front of the first leg which prevents damage to a horizontal run area of the stairway while supporting a weight of the user;
a second bottom pad attached to a front of the second leg which prevents damage to the horizontal run area of the stairway while supporting the weight of the user;
a second leg assembly attached in proximity to a second end of the plank, the second leg assembly extendible to adjust a length of the second leg assembly; and
a hinge bracket attached to the plank in proximity to the first end of the plank and to the first leg of the first leg assembly, the first leg rotatable relative to the plank with the hinge bracket between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the first leg is parallel to and extends along an underside of the plank with the first end of the plank extending longitudinally beyond the first leg and the first bottom pad, and wherein in the open position the first leg forms an angle between 90 degrees and 145 degrees with the plank;
the stairway work platform configurable to a stairway mode, wherein in stairway mode the first leg assembly is in the closed position to position the first end of the plank on a stair of the stairway such that at least a portion of the first bottom pad and second bottom pad rest on the horizontal run area of the stair and at least a portion of the end pad on the first end of the plank contacts the vertical rise area of the stair and the length of the second leg assembly is adjusted to a position which makes the plank level with respect to ground.

2. The stairway work platform of claim 1 including a first side pad attached to a side of the first leg which prevents damage to a right wall which is adjacent to the stairway, and a second side pad attached to a side of the second leg which prevents damage to a left wall which is adjacent to the stairway when the platform is in the stairway mode.

3. The stairway work platform of claim 2 wherein the first side pad and the first bottom pad are one continuous piece and the second side pad and the second bottom pad are one continuous piece.

4. The stairway work platform of claim 3 wherein the first side pad and the first bottom pad, and the second side pad and the second bottom pad provide padding to inhibit damage to the stairway or the first wall and the second wall when the platform is in the stairway mode.

5. The stairway work platform of claim 4 wherein the first side pad and the first bottom pad, and the second side pad and the second bottom pad have an L-shaped cross section, which covers the bottom and the right side and the bottom and the left side of the first leg and the second leg, respectively.

6. The stairway work platform of claim 5 including a first inside pad connected to and extending from the first bottom pad with the first inside pad and the first bottom pad and the first side pad having a C-shaped cross-section and being one continuous piece, and including a second inside pad connected to and extending from the second bottom pad with the second inside pad and the second bottom pad and the second side pad having a C-shaped cross-section and being one continuous piece.

7. The stairway work platform of claim 1 wherein the end pad, the first bottom pad, and the second bottom pad of the platform space the plank and the first leg assembly from contact with the horizontal run area and vertical rise area of the stairway's steps in the stairway mode.

8. The stairway work platform of claim 1 , wherein the middle section of the end pad has a region of increased thickness.

9. The stairway work platform of claim 1 , wherein the end pad includes at least one window.

10. The stairway work platform of claim 1 , wherein the end pad has a C-shaped cross-section, the end pad receiving at least a portion of the first end of the plank.

11. The stairway work platform of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the end pad includes a hook portion to secure the end pad to the plank.

12. The stairway work platform of claim 1 , wherein the end pad is formed of PVC.

13. The stairway work platform of claim 1 wherein the middle section of the end pad includes a lower end surface and an upper end surface, the upper end surface extending obliquely to the lower end surface.

14. The stairway work platform of claim 1 wherein the top section of the end pad includes a hook portion to secure the top section to the plank and the bottom section of the end pad is secured directly to the plank with fasteners.

15. The stairway work platform of claim 14 wherein the hook portion of the top section clips the top section to the plank to attach the end pad to the plank.

16. The stairway work platform of claim 1 wherein the first bottom pad has a thickness sized to space fasteners extended therethrough from contact the horizontal run area of the stairway.

17. The stairway work platform of claim 1 further comprising an actuator at the bottom section of the end pad, the actuator operable to unlock the hinge bracket to permit the first leg assembly to rotate relative to the plank.

18. The stairway work platform of claim 17 wherein the actuator includes a first handle and a second handle to be urged together to permit the first leg assembly to rotate relative to the plank.

19. A stairway work platform comprising:
a plank;
a first leg assembly including a first leg and a hinge, the first leg attached in proximity to a first end of the plank with the hinge such that the first leg is pivotable relative to the plank with the hinge between a closed position and an open position; and
a leg pad attached to a portion of the first leg adjacent the hinge with fasteners, the leg pad including:
a first side pad;
a first bottom pad extending perpendicularly from the first side pad and having a region of increased thickness; and
a first inside pad extending perpendicularly from the first side pad, with the first side pad between the first bottom pad and the first inside pad and the first bottom pad in parallel with the first inside pad, the first inside pad contacting an underside of the plank when the first leg is in the closed position,
wherein the first side pad, first bottom pad, and first inside pad are molded as one continuous piece,
the leg pad molded of a material to provide padding to the first leg to inhibit damage to a surface.

20. The stairway work platform of claim 19 , wherein the first side pad includes a window.

21. The stairway work platform of claim 19 , wherein the first side pad has a region of increased thickness.

22. The stairway work platform of claim 21 wherein the region of increased thickness of the first side pad extends about a window of the first side pad.

23. The stairway work platform of claim 19 , wherein the first b

Assignees

• Werner Co

Inventors

• Melton Michael
• Pozgay David
• Lauricella Jerry

Classifications

• E06C1/393

  Ladders having platforms foldable with the ladder · CPC title

• E04G1/365

  specially adapted for staircases or stairs · CPC title

• E06C1/39 Primary

  Ladders having platforms; Ladders changeable into platforms (platforms for use on ladders E06C7/16) · CPC title

• E04G1/28

  designed to provide support only at a low height · CPC title

• E04G1/30 Primary

  Ladder scaffolds {(ladders having platforms E06C1/39, platforms on, or for use on; ladders E06C7/16)} · CPC title