FOLDABLE PLATFORM DEVICE

• US 3,696,762 A
• Filed: 06/24/1969
• Issued: 10/10/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bertram Roy Holdham
• Original Assignee: Bertram Roy Holdham
• Inventors: Holdham, Bertram Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, James C.
• Application Number:
  US04/835,967
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 108/2,48,37,38,40,134,136 248/376 297/332 312/313
• US Class Current: 108/134
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/04 foldable

Abstract

The invention provides a foldable platform device comprising a platform having an end for linear guidance by a guideway between an out-of-use position of the platform and an in-use position of the platform, a guideway for so guiding said platform end, a support member for the platform which support member will extend between the platform and a platform support and will move with the platform between the platform out-of-use and in-use positions, and biasing means operatively connected to the support member for having a controlling influence over movement of the platform between its out-of-use and in-use positions.

Claims

1. Foldable platform means, comprising a platform normally having a horizontal operative position;

fixed vertical slide means;

means connecting one end of said platform for vertical sliding movement relative to said slide means;

a fixed platform support arranged immediately beneath said slide means;

a rigid strut member pivotally connected at one end with said fixed platform sUpport, the other end of said strut member being pivotally connected with said platform adjacent its other end, said one platform end being downwardly slidable in said vertical slide means and said rigid strut member being upwardly pivotable about its lower end to permit said platform to be collapsed from said horizontal operative position to a vertical storage position adjacent and parallel with said slide means; and

spring and lever means biasing said platform toward one of said operative and storage positions.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing means includes a lower lever pivotally connected at one end with said rigid platform support above the pivotal connection of the lower end of said strut member, an upper lever pivotally connected at one end with said platform between said one end thereof and the pivotal connection of the upper end of said strut member, means connecting the other ends of said levers for sliding movement relative to said strut member, and spring means biasing said other ends of said levers toward each other.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said other ends of the two levers each carry roller means, and further wherein the strut member carries slide means slidably receiving said roller means.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means biases said platform toward its vertical storage position.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means provides a counterbalance to the weight of the platform during platform movement between its storage and operative positions.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means biases said platform towards its horizontal operative position.

7. A device according to claim 1, including means for positively locating the platform in its horizontal operative position.

8. A device according to claim 1, including releasable catch means for releasably holding the platform in its horizontal operative position.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the platform is so disposed relative to said pivotal connection between said strut member and said platform support that when the platform is in its vertical storage position the weight of the platform biases the platform towards its vertical storage position.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said one platform end carries roller means for reception by said slide means.

11. A device according to claim 1, and further including an additional lever pivotally connected at its lower end with said platform support, said additional lever being adapted at its upper end to bear against the under surface of said platform, said bearing means comprising a torsion spring urging said additional lever in the direction of said platform.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said additional lever includes at its upper end roller means for bearing against the underside of the platform.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein said spring and lever biasing means includes a lever one end of which is pivotally connected with said platform support and the other end of which engages said strut member adjacent the platform support end thereof, and spring means interconnecting said other end of said lever and said strut member, said spring means being connected to said strut member at a location between said other end of said lever and said platform.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said biasing means further includes torsion spring means arranged at the platform end of said strut member for urging said platform toward its horizontal operative position, said other end of said lever being guided for movement along said strut member.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring and lever biasing means comprises a lever one end of which is pivotally connected with the platform and the other end of which engages said strut member adjacent the platform end thereof, and spring means interconnecting said other end of said lever and the strut member, said spring means being connected with said strut member at a location between said other end of said lever and said platform support.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said biasing means further includes torsion spring means arranged at the platform support end of said strut member for urging said platform toward its storage position, said other end of the lever being guided for movement along the strut member.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said other end of the lever carries roller means, and further wherein said strut member carries slide means for slidably receiving said roller means.