GB2260560A

GB2260560A - A staircase platform

Info

Publication number: GB2260560A
Application number: GB9120882A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Philip Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-10-01
Filing date: 1991-10-01
Publication date: 1993-04-21
Also published as: GB9120882D0

Abstract

A staircase platform comprising a rigid board (10) and two further support platforms (12 and 14) adjustably mounted beneath the rigid board (10). Lazy tongs devices (15 and 25) pivotally mounted with respect to the board (10) and to the adjustable supports (13 and 14) provide adjustment of the relative heights of the adjustable supports, and the positions of adjustment are determined by two series of inclined slots (19 and 28) with a locking bar (32) preventing the platform from collapsing when used after adjustment. Thus, the device is adapted to be mounted on two or three separate stairs of a staircase, for example to support a ladder to be leaned against a side wall for decorating or maintenance work. The board has a removable bar 11 and a spirit level 12. <IMAGE>

Description

A STMRCASE PLATFORM THIS INVENTION concerns a staircase platform or levelling device adapted to provide a stable, level platform on a flight of stairs or steps.

Such a device may provide a base for a ladder or an extended base for a plank, or it may provide a working platform for supporting tools, paints, large liquid containers, temporary lighting stands, or the like. Such a device is useful, for example, to window cleaners, decorators, maintenance personnel, or emergency services.

An object of the present invention is to provide a staircase platform which may be firmly located on a flight of stairs or steps and which may be adjusted to the rising height of the latter and then locked firmly to prevent collapse and to provide a rigid platform upon which a ladder or the like may be supported.

According to the present invention a staircase platform comprises a rigid board and at least one adjustable support mounted beneath the board, whereby the platform may stand with the board located on one stair of a staircase and with the adjustable support on a stair below.

Preferably, the adjustable support is suspended from a lazy tongs device, and includes a locking mechanism whereby the latter may be prevented from collapsing once the adjusted height has been established.

Furthermore, the platform preferably includes at least two adjustable supports mounted beneath the board thus to be located on several successive stairs.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a staircase platform made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof and shown in a collapsed condition; and Fig. 3 is a further side elevation thereof and shown in a fully extended condition.

The platform comprises a rigid board 10 preferably made of wood and of square configuration having a side dimension in the region of 75 centimetres. A removable bar 11 is positioned to extend along substantially the entire length of the board 10 at the midlateral position. A spirit level 12 may be provided in the bar 11.

Mounted beneath the board 10 are a pair of longitudinally spaced lateral support boards 13 and 14 which are adjustable in height with respect to the board 10.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the adjustable support 13 is suspended from a lazy tongs device 15 comprising a pair of pivoted struts one of which is pivotally located at its upper end, via a pin 16, in a short horizontal slot 17 whilst the other is pivotally located by a pin 18 in one of a series of six inclined open-ended slots 19. The slots 17 and 19 are provided in a rigid member 20 fixedly attached to the bottom surface of the board 10.

The bottom ends of the lazy tong struts 15 are pivotally located respectively at a fixed position 21 and within a long horizontal slot 22 in a further rigid member 23 fixedly attached to the top surface of the support 13.

A clamping screw 24 is provided at the intersection of the lazy tong struts 15 to clamp them in a selected position.

The second and lower lateral support board 14 is mounted on two pairs of lazy tong struts 25 having two clamping screws 26 at the intersections provided by the pairs of struts. As for the first adjustable lateral support 13, the struts 25 of support 14 are mounted at their upper ends respectively in a short horizontal slot 27 and selectively within a series of six inclined slots 28. Again, the lower ends of the struts 25 are mounted respectively at a fixed pivotal position 29 and adjustably within a long horizontal slot 30 in a rigid member 31 fixedly attached to the top surface of the support 14.

To enable the heights of the two lateral supports 13 and 14 beneath the board 10, to be adjusted, a locking bar 32 is pivotally attached via a link 33 to one end of the member 20 and slidably adjustable by means of a pin 34 fixed adjacent the other end of member 20 and located in a slot 35 provided in a member attached to the bar 32. It can be seen that by moving the locking bar 32 in the direction of arrow 36, pivotal movement of link 33 causes the bar 32 to move downwardly away from the member 20 thus to permit repositioning of the lazy tong struts 15 and 25 with respect to different ones of the inclined slots 19 and 28 respectively.Once these have been established in their desired positions i.e. to accommodate the rising height of a particular flight of stairs or steps, the device may be locked in the selected condition by returning bar 32 to the position illustrated and by tightening locking screws 24 and 26. A spring S helps to return the bar 32.

With reference to Fig. 1 it may be seen that the clamping screws 24 and 26 are threadedly engaged on spindles which extend laterally across the device within sleeves 37. Clamping rings 38 are placed on each side of each pivotal connection of the lazy tong struts such that clockwise rotation of the clamping screws causes the rings to clamp onto the struts to fix the pivotal disposition thereof.

Thus it can be seen that the device may be adjusted between the substantially collapsed condition illustrated in Fig. 2 and the fully extended condition illustrated in Fig. 3. The number and spacing of inclined slots 19 and 28 in the member 20 are designed to provide sufficient height adjustment of the lateral supports 13 and 14 to accommodate the rising height range of most staircases.

It will be seen that by placing the right-hand end of board 10 as illustrated in Fig. 2 on one stair and by adjusting the heights of lateral supports 13 and 14 beneath the board 10 to be supported on the next two steps down, and by clamping the device in that condition, the platform 10 is established at a level attitude and may then support a ladder to be leaned against a side wall of the staircase with the base of the ladder located against the bar 11 to prevent it from slipping. The spirit level 12 will enable the user to ensure that the board 10 is level before use.

Preferably, other than the board 10 and supports 13 and 14 which will be made from wood or dense fibre board, the remainder of the device is constructed from a lightweight alloy so that it may be lightweight and readily portable.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above details. For example, the inclined slots 19 and 28 may be replaced by horizontal slots similar to those illustrated at 22 and 30. This would provide infinitely variable adjustment of the lateral supports 13 and 14, but further means may be needed in addition to the locking action of screws 24 and 26, to ensure that the device cannot collapse when in use.

Claims

1. A staircase platform comprising a rigid board and at least one adjustable support mounted beneath the board whereby the platform may stand with the board located on one stair of a staircase with the adjustable support on the stair below.

2. A staircase platform according to Claim 1, wherein the adjustable support is suspended from a lazy tongs device and includes a locking mechanism, whereby the platform may be prevented from collapsing once the adjusted height has been established.

3. A staircase platform according to Claim 2, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a pin attached to the lazy tongs device and capable of selective location within a series of slots.

4. A staircase platform according to Claim 3, in which said locking mechanism further comprises a movable locking bar to retain said pin from a selected slot.

5. A staircase platform according to any preceding claim, wherein said at least one adjustable support comprises a second board mounted at the base of said lazy tongs device and pivotally connected thereto to permit adjustment of the length of said lazy tongs device.

6. A staircase platform according to Claim 4, wherein said series of slots is comprised by spaced inclined open-ended slots provided in a vertical member attached beneath the rigid board and extending downwardly therefrom, and said locking bar is pivotally attached to said vertical member and is movable to and from a position in which it occludes the open ends of said slots.

7. A staircase platform according to Claim 3, wherein said lazy tongs device is provided with a clamping screw at the intersection of the lazy tongs struts to clamp them in a selected position.

8. A staircase platform according to Claim 7, wherein said clamping screw is attached to a spindle extending between two lazy tong devices one at each side of the platform such that rotation of said clamping screw causing simultaneous clamping of two opposed lazy tongs devices and thus location of said adjustable support relative to the rigid board.

9. A staircase platform according to any preceding claim, including at least two adjustable supports mounted beneath the rigid board thus to be located on two successive stairs therebelow each of said adjustable supports being independently adjustable with respect to the rigid board.

10. A staircase platform according to any preceding claim, wherein said rigid board includes a removable bar positioned to extend along substantially the entire length of the rigid board at the midlateral position thereof.

11. A staircase platform according to any preceding claim, including a spirit level fixed with respect to the rigid board to enable the user to ensure that the board is level before use.

12. A staircase platform according to any preceding claim, wherein said rigid board and the or each adjustable support is made from wood or dense fibre board, and the remainder of the device is constructed from a predominantly lightweight alloy.

13. A staircase platform according to Claim 1, wherein the position of the or each adjustable support relative to the rigid board is infinitely variable and wherein separate locking means are provided to ensure that the device cannot collapse when used after adjustment.

14. A staircase platform substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.