MODULAR FIXED-LEVEL WORK PLATFORM

• US 3,698,511 A
• Filed: 10/06/1970
• Issued: 10/17/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William L. Dohan
• Original Assignee: William L. Dohan
• Inventors: Dohan, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Machado, Reinaldo P.
• Application Number:
  US05/078,441
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 182/115,113,179,178,119,118
• US Class Current: 182/113
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 1/14 Comprising essentially pre-assembled two-dimensional frame-like elements, e.g. of rods in L- or H-shape, with or without bracing E04G1/15 takes precedence

Abstract

A plurality of identical platform and ladder modules can be releasably connected together in various combinations to achieve a unitary rigid structure that establishes a fixed level work platform of the desired configuration supported by steps providing access thereto. The construction of the modules permits them to be manufactured at one location, and individually shipped to a remote location where they can be assembled in-situ into the desired configuration.

Claims

1. A fixed level work platform that can be constructed in-situ comprising a plurality of identical platform modules releasably connected together for defining a fixed-level work platform, and ladder means releasably connected to a platform module at each end of said work platform for providing steps leading to and support for said work platform, and wherein the ladder means at one end of said work platform is constituted by a pair of ladder modules, each ladder module comprising a pair of separate overlying identical parallelogram ladder frames each of which has a pair of identical parallel inclined members attached to the free ends of a pair of identical parallel, vertical members;

the upper one of the inclined members of each pair of ladder frames constituting a step support, and a plurality of spaced step means attached to said other members constituting steps, there being in each vertical member a pair of spaced holes, opposite vertical members of a pair of ladder frames of one module being abutted with opposite vertical members of a pair of ladder frames of an adjacent module whereby the handrails are aligned and the holes in the last mentioned vertical members are aligned, and bolt means passing through the aligned holes for rigidly attaching said one module to said adjacent module.

2. A fixed level work platform that can be constructed in-situ comprising a plurality of identical platform modules releasably connected together for defining a fixed-level work platform, and ladder means releasably connected to a platform module at each end of said work platform for providing steps leading to and support for said worK platform, and wherein each platform module comprises a pair of separate overlying identical rectangular platform frames each of which has a pair of identical parallel, horizontal members attached to the free ends of a pair of identical parallel vertical members, the upper one of the horizontal members of each pair of platform frames constituting a handrail, and tread means attached to each of the vertical members constituting a platform, there being a pair of spaced holes in each vertical member, opposite vertical members of a pair of platform frames of one module being in abutment with opposite vertical members of a pair of platform frames of an adjacent module whereby the handrails are aligned and the holes in the last mentioned vertical members are aligned, and bolt means passing through the aligned holes for rigidly attaching said one module to said adjacent module.

3. A work platform according to claim 2 wherein said ladder means at one end of said work platform includes a right-angle module comprising a rear rectangular frame having a pair of identical parallel horizontal members attached to the free ends of a pair of identical parallel vertical members, the upper horizontal member of said rear frame constituting a handrail, a front frame having a single lower horizontal member and a pair of spaced vertical support units attached to the free ends of the last mentioned horizontal member, and tread means attached to the vertical members of said rear frame and said support units, there being a pair of spaced holes in the vertical member of said rear frame at the other end thereof and in the other support unit, the last mentioned vertical member and support unit being spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between said pair of platform frames and being in abutment with opposite vertical members of a pair of platform frames of a platform module at one end of said work platform whereby the handrail of said right-angle module is aligned with one of the handrails of the last mentioned platform module and the holes in the vertical member and support unit of the right-angle module are aligned with the holes in vertical members of said last mentioned platform module, and bolt means passing through the aligned holes for rigidly attaching the right angle module to said last mentioned platform module.

4. A work platform according to claim 2 wherein the ladder means at each end of said work platform is constituted by a ladder module each of which comprises a pair of separate overlying identical parallelogram ladder frames each of which has a pair of identical parallel, inclined members attached to the free ends of a pair of identical parallel, vertical members, one of the inclined members of each pair of ladder frames constituting a handrail, and the other of the incline members constituting a step support, and a plurality of spaced step means attached to said other members constituting steps, there being in each vertical member a pair of spaced holes, the spacing between the ladder frames being the same as the spacing between the platform frames, opposite vertical members of a pair of ladder frames the respective ladder modules being in abutment with opposite vertical members of a pair of platform frames of the respective platform modules at each end of the work platform whereby the handrails of said ladder modules are contiguous to the handrails of said one platform module and the holes in the last mentioned vertical members are aligned, and bolt means passing through the aligned holes for rigidly attaching together the abutted modules.

5. A work platform according to claim 4 wherein each of said members is tubular.

6. A work platform according to claim 5 wherein there is a step means on each ladder module attached to the ladder frames thereof at the upper corners of the overlying parallelograms.

7. A fixed level work platform that can be constructed in-situ comprising a plurality of identical platform modules releasably connected together for defining a fixEd-level work platform, and ladder means releasably connected to a platform module at each end of said work platform for providing steps leading to and support for said work platform, and wherein each platform module comprises a pair of separate overlying identical rectangular platform frames each of which has a pair of identical parallel, horizontal members attached to the free ends of a pair of identical parallel and vertical members, one of the horizontal members of each pair of platform frames constituting a handrail, and tread means attached to each of the vertical members constituting a platform, there being a pair of spaced holes in each vertical member, and an auxiliary support for supporting said work platform, said support having a pair of vertical legs to the inside of each of which is rigidly attached a vertical member having a pair of spaced holes, opposite vertical members of a pair of platform frames of one module being in abutment with one side of the vertical members on the legs, and the opposite vertical members of a pair of platform frames of an adjacent module being in abutment with the opposite side of the vertical members on the legs whereby the handrails are aligned and the holes in the last mentioned vertical members are aligned, and bolt means passing through the aligned holes for rigidly attaching the platform modules to said auxiliary support.

8. A work platform according to claim 7 wherein caster wheels are releasably attached to the free ends of said auxiliary support.

9. A work platform according to claim 8 wherein said ladder means at one end of said work platform also includes a ladder module which comprises a pair of separate overlying identical parallelogram frames each of which has a pair of identical parallel inclined members attached to the free ends of a pair of identical parallel vertical members, the upper one of the inclined members of each pair of frames constituting a handrail, and the other of the inclined members constituting a step support, and a plurality of spaced step means attached to said other members constituting steps, there being a pair of spaced holes in the vertical members of said frame and in said support units, the last mentioned vertical members and support units being spaced apart the same distance and being in abutment whereby the spaced holes are aligned, and bolt means passing through the aligned holes for rigidly attaching the right angle module to said ladder module.