PLATFORM SYSTEM

• US 20170275888A1
• Filed: 03/22/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safe Rack LLC
• Original Assignee: Safe Rack LLC
• Inventors: Honeycutt, Robert W., Lane, Joseph N., Jones, Carson Allan, King, JR., Paul Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/025 Stairways having stringers E04F11/035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/035 Stairways consisting of a plurality of assembled modular parts without further support E04F11/032 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/112 of metal or with an upper layer of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/0209 mainly of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1868 Miscellaneous features of handrails not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/187 lengthwise adjustable, e.g. telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 27/00 Temporary arrangements for giving access from one level to another for men or vehicles, e.g. steps, ramps for scaffolds E04G5/10; gangways B63; lifts B66

Abstract

A platform system comprising a platform structure having at least one modular platform unit with platform connection features on a side surface thereof to which other components can be connected, the other components including at least two of the following: another modular platform unit, a stair unit, a tower unit, a handrail unit, and a ladder unit. A stair assembly is connected to the platform structure via said connection features, the stair assembly comprising a plurality of stair units connected together to provide a number of steps equal to the sum of steps of the stair units.

Claims

1. A platform system comprising:

a platform structure having at least one modular platform unit with platform connection features on side surfaces thereof to which other components can be connected, said other components including at least two of another modular platform unit, a stair unit having a plurality of steps, a tower unit, a handrail unit, and a ladder unit; and

a stair assembly connected to said platform structure via said platform connection features, said stair assembly comprising a plurality of stair units connected together to provide a number of steps equal to the sum of steps of said stair units.

2. A platform system as in claim 1, wherein left and right stringers of each said stair unit comprise a side plate having upper and lower stair connection features for attachment of upper termination elements and base elements, respectively.

3. A platform system as in claim 2, wherein said stair units of said stair assembly are interconnected together at an interconnection location via web plates that are attached to said side plates using said stair connection features in lieu of upper termination elements and base elements at the interconnection location.

4. A platform system as in claim 1, wherein handrail sections of said stair units are connected to form a continuous handrail along a length of said stair assembly.

5. A platform system as in claim 4, wherein said handrail sections of said stair units are connected together using transition handrail sections.

6. A platform system as in claim 5, comprising internal couplings for connecting said handrails together.

7. A platform system as in claim 6, wherein said internal couplings comprise expansible coupling elements engaging an inner surface of said handrails.

8. A platform system as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of stair units comprises at least three of said stair units.

9. A platform system as in claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of stair units has no more than six steps.

10. A platform system as in claim 1, further comprising a tower assembly connected to said platform structure via said platform connection features, said tower assembly comprising a plurality of tower units connected together to provide a total height corresponding to a height of said stair assembly.

11. A platform system as in claim 10, wherein said tower units are interconnected using generally U-shaped brackets.

12. A platform system as in claim 1, wherein said handrail units and handrails of said stair assembly are attached using a nut plate locking assembly inserted into a tubular end of a handrail support post.

13. A stair assembly for use in a platform system, said stair assembly comprising:

a plurality of stair units each comprising a pair of left and right side plates having a plurality of spaced apart steps extending therebetween;

said plurality of stair units being arranged such that left side plates of the plurality of stair units are axially aligned with each other and right side plates of the plurality of stair units are axially aligned with each other;

left side plates of adjacent stair units of said plurality of stair units being rigidly interconnected and right side plates of adjacent stair units of said plurality of stair units being rigidly interconnected.

14. A stair assembly for use in a platform system as in claim 13, wherein said adjacent left side plates and said adjacent right side plates are in end-to-end abutment.

15. A stair assembly for use in a platform system as in claim 14, wherein said adjacent left side plates and said adjacent right side plates are interconnected via web plates.

16. A stair assembly for use in a platform system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said left side plates, said right side plates, and said web plates are L-shaped.

17. A stair assembly for use in a platform system as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said left and right side plates of a lowermost stair unit of said plurality of stair units have respective removable base elements attached thereto; and

said left and right side plates of an uppermost stair unit of said plurality of stair units have respective removable upper termination elements attached thereto.

18. A stair assembly for use in a platform system as in claim 13, wherein handrail sections of said stair units are connected to form a continuous handrail along a length of said stair assembly.

19. A stair assembly for use in a platform as in claim 13, wherein each of said stair units has at least four steps and no more than six steps.

20. A tower assembly for use in a platform system, said tower assembly comprising:

a plurality of tower units stacked one on top of the other, each of the tower units having an inverted generally U-shaped configuration with a top portion and pair of depending leg portions; and

adjacent tower units being interconnected via a pair of removable side brackets.

21. A tower assembly as set forth in claim 20, wherein each of said tower units comprises at least one cross-support extending between said depending leg portions.

22. A tower assembly as set forth in claim 20, comprising first and second removable base fittings attached to respective of said depending leg portions of a lowermost tower unit of said plurality of tower units.

23. A tower assembly as set forth in claim 21, comprising a separate top piece located above the top portion of an uppermost tower unit of said plurality of tower units.

24. A tower assembly as set forth in claim 20, wherein said top portion and said depending leg portions of said tower units are formed of rectangular tubing.

25. A tower assembly as set forth in claim 20, wherein said plurality of tower units comprises at least three of said tower units.

26. A method of assembling a stair assembly for use in a platform system, said method comprising steps of:

obtaining a plurality of stair units each comprising a pair of left and right side plates having a plurality of spaced apart steps extending therebetween;

arranging said plurality of stair units such that left side plates of the plurality of stair units are axially aligned with each other and right side plates of the plurality of stair units are axially aligned with each other;

rigidly interconnecting said left side plates of adjacent stair units of said plurality of stair units and right side plates of adjacent stair units of said plurality of stair units using a plurality of web plates.

30. A combination as in claim 26, wherein said threaded hole is defined by a nut attached to said nut plate.

27. A combination comprising:

a plate structure defining at least one fastener through-hole;

a tubular member defining a fastener receipt hole;

a nut plate locking device having a nut plate and an associated spring plate received in said tubular member, said spring plate carrying at least one spring urging it away from said nut plate;

said nut plate having a threaded hole aligned with said fastener through-hole of said plate structure and said fastener receipt hole of said tubular member; and

a threaded fastener extending through said fastener through-hole of said plate structure and said fastener receipt hole of said tubular member into threaded engagement with said threaded hole of said nut plate such that said tubular member is connected to said plate structure.

28. A combination as in claim 27, further comprising a washer piece having a flat side and a curved side situated between said plate structure and said tubular member.

29. A combination as in claim 27, wherein said nut plate locking device has a flange located at one end thereof to limit insertion into said tubular member.