Portable turntable device

• US 4,753,173 A
• Filed: 08/14/1985
• Issued: 06/28/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley D. James
• Original Assignee: Stanley D. James
• Inventors: James, Stanley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Frank
• Application Number:
  US06/765,458
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 104/35, 104/36, 104/38, 104/44, 104/45, 104/46, 246/428
• US Class Current: 104/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 13/02 Turntables; Traversers incorporated in vehicle-storing garages E04H ; rotary display stands A47F5/02

Abstract

A portable, sectioned, rotatable platform member has four distinct portions, a central portion, a substantially flat table portion, a curved apron portion, and an edge wall portion. The platform member is supported by vertical rotatable bearing surfaces which are positioned under the substantially flat table portion of the platform member. Additionally, horizontal, rotatable, guide surfaces are located under the platform member to position the platform member and allow for its free rotatability.

Claims

1. A portable turntable device for vehicles or the like comprising:

a substantially circular platform member having;

(i) means for giving a driver of the vehicle or the like notice of being misaligned with said substantially circular platform memer, said means for giving notice to the driver including an integral substantially dome-shaped central portion;

(ii) a table portion for the support of weight extending from the perimeter of said substantially dome-shaped central portion;

(iii) a cantilevered apron portion extending from the perimeter of said substantially flat weight supporting table portion, said cantilevered apron portion constructed and arranged to deflect by an amount sufficient to allow the motor vehicle or the like to be driven onto said weight supporting table portion; and

(iv) an edge wall portion depending downwardly from the perimeter of said cantileverd apron portion; and

means to support said substantially circular platform member located under said substantially circular platform member, said support means having;

(i) at least three substantially vertical load-bearing surfaces in contact with the underside of said weight supporting table portion of said substantially circular platform member, said substantially vertical load-bearing surfaces being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis; and

(ii) a plurality of substantially horizontal guide surfaces for lateral alignment of said substantially circular platform member, said substantially horiozntal guide surfaces being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.

2. The portable turntable device as defined in claim 1 wherein said substantially circular platform member is further defined as having at least two separate pie-shaped sections.

3. The portable turntable device as defined in claim 2 wherein said substantially circular platform member includes means to connect said pie-shaped sections located on downwardly depending flanges extending from the underside of said substantially circular platform member.

4. The portable turntable device as defined in claim 2 wherein said substantially circular platform member is made of fiberglass.

5. A portable turntable device for vehicles or the like comprising:

a substantially circular platform member having;

(i) means for giving a driver of the vehicle or the like notice of being misaligned with said substantially circular platform member, said means for giving notice to the driver including an integral substantially dome-shaped central portion;

(ii) a table portion for the support of weight extending from the perimeter of said substantially dome-shaped central portion;

(iii) a cantilevered apron portion extending from the perimeter of said substantially flat weight supporting table portion, said cantiIevered apron portion constructed and arranged to deflect by an amount sufficient to allow the motor vehicle or the like to be driven onto said weight supporting table portion; and

(iv) an edge wall portion depending downwardly from the perimeter of said cantilevered apron portion; and

means to support said substantially circular platform member located under said substantially circular platform member, said support means including;

(i) a base member;

(ii) a substantially vertical load-bearing surface mounted on said base member in contact with the underside of said weight supporting table portion of said substantially circular platform member, said substantially vertical load-bearing surface being rotatble about a substantially horizontal axis;

(iii) a substantially horizontal guide member located on said base for lateral alignment of said substantially circular platform member, said substantially horizontal guide member being rotatable about a substantially axis.

6. The portable turntable device as defined in claim 5 wherein said substantially vertical load-bearing surface is a roller bearing.

7. The portable turntable device as defined in claim 5 wherein said substantially horizontal guide member is a roller bearing.

8. The portable turntable device as defined in claim 5 further including means to rotate said substantially circular platform member.

9. A portable turntable system comprising:

a substantially cicular platform member having;

(i) an integral substantially dome-shaped central portion;

(ii) a table portion for the support of weight extending from substantially dome-shaped central portion;

(iii) a cantilevered apron portion extending from the perimeter of said weight suppoting table portion, said cantilevered apron portion flexing as a cantilevered beam when a heavy object is rolled on or off said substantially circular platform member; and

(iv) an edge wall portion extending from said cantilevered apron portion; and

means to support said substantially circular platform member located under said substantially circular platform member, said support means having;

(i) at least three substantially vertical, load-bearing surfaces in contact with the underside of said weight supporting table portion of said substantially circular platform member; and

(ii) a plurality of substantially horizontal guide surfaces in contact with a flange member which depends from the underside of said weight supporting table portion of said substantially circular platform member, said substantially horizontal guide surfaces being rotoatable about a substantially vertical axis.

10. The portable turntable system as defined in claim 9 further including means to rotate said substantially circular platform member.