ELEVATED WORKING PLATFORM AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20130186710A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Little Giant Ladder Systems LLC (Wing Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wing Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Moss, N. Ryan, Penrod, Darius S., Russell, Brian, Peterson, Sean, Jonas, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 9,663,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 182/104
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/393 Ladders having platforms foldable with the ladder
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/397 characterised by having wheels, rollers, or runners
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/182 situated at the top of the ladder
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/185 Devices providing a back support to a person on the ladder, e.g. cages
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/423 Ladder stabilising struts

Abstract

Elevated work platforms, as well as associated methods, are provided. In one particular embodiment, an elevated platform apparatus is provided comprising a first rail assembly having a pair of rails coupled with a plurality of rungs, a second rail assembly hingedly coupled with the first rail assembly, a platform configured to rest upon a portion of the first rail assembly and the second rails assembly and 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. The at least one gate is also limited from being displaced in a second direction, opposite the first direction, beyond the closed position.

Claims

1. An elevated platform apparatus comprising:

a first rail assembly having a pair of rails coupled with a plurality of rungs;

a second rail assembly hingedly coupled with the first rail assembly;

a platform configured to rest upon a portion of the first rail assembly and the second rails assembly; and

a cage associated with the platform, the cage including 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 swing back to a closed position after the user is standing on the platform, the at least one gate also being limited from being displaced in a second direction, opposite the first direction, beyond the closed position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform is pivotally coupled with the first rail assembly and in selective locking engagement with the second rail assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one gate includes a pair of gates adjacent one another.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each gate of the pair includes a pivoting coupling member having an inclined engagement surface, wherein the inclined engagement surface, in conjunction with the weight of the gate, biases the gate to the closed position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first rail assembly includes an outer rail assembly and an inner rail assembly slidingly coupled with the first rail assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising at least one adjustment mechanism configured to selectively lock the inner rail assembly at a specified location relative to outer rail assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a pulley system associated with the first assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pulley system includes a tension line having a first, free end and a second end coupled with the outer rail assembly, the tension line being fed through a first pulley coupled to the outer rail assembly and a second pulley coupled with the inner rail assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second rail assembly includes an outer rail assembly and an inner rail assembly slidingly coupled with the first rail assembly.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one other adjustment mechanism configured to selectively lock the inner rail assembly of the second assembly at a specified location relative to outer rail assembly of the second assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising another pulley system associated with the second assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a barrier member positioned on an interior surface of the outer rail assembly at a location adjacent the at least one adjusting mechanism.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein rails of the inner rail assembly are disposed within cross-sectional cavities of associated rails of the outer rail assembly, and wherein the rails of the outer rail assembly each include a bracket at their upper end substantially circumscribing the rails of the outer rail assembly and the rails of the inner rail assembly, the bracket defining a slot located along a surface of the rails of the inner rail assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising at least one pair of wheels coupled with the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one pair of wheels includes:

a first pair of wheels coupled with at least one of the first assembly and the second assembly at a fixed location;

a second pair of wheels coupled with the first assembly, the second pair of wheels including at least one retraction mechanism;

a third pair of wheels coupled with the second assembly, the third pair of wheels including at least one retraction mechanism.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the at least one retraction mechanism associated with the second pair of wheels and the at least one retraction mechanism associated with third pair of wheels includes a cam cylinder, a push rod, a cam follower and at least one biasing member.

17. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a flexible barrier disposed at least partially about the cage.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the flexible barrier comprises netting.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one bar includes a first bar at a first elevation relative to the platform and a second bar and a second, higher elevation relative to the platform, and wherein the flexible barrier extends between the platform and the first bar and substantially circumscribes the platform except for the location of the pair of gates.

20. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second assembly includes a pair of rails and a plurality of rungs, and wherein the cage is defined to include at least one additional gate, the at least one additional gate being configured to be displaced from a closed position upon a user stepping on to the platform from the second rail assembly, and return to a closed position after the user is standing on the platform.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one additional gate includes a pair of gates positioned adjacent to each other.

22. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising at least one stabilizer coupled with at least one of the first rail assembly and the second rail assembly.