GB2337072A

GB2337072A - Hinged portable platform assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2337072A
Application number: GB9909640A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Conroy
Original assignee: CONROY SHAUN
Current assignee: CONROY SHAUN
Priority date: 1998-04-28
Filing date: 1999-04-28
Publication date: 1999-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-28
Also published as: GB9909640D0; GB2337072B; GB9808961D0

Abstract

A lightweight, portable platform assembly comprises a series of foldable elements (2) interconnected by a series of hinges (3). The surfaces of each element (2) are provided with non-slip material (4). The assembly may be used as a user support or fixture protector in domestic environments for example in or above a bath.

Description

1 1 Portable Sheet Assemblv 2 3 The present invention relates to a

portable sheet 4 assembly, which is typically used as a cover to protect a 5 bath. 6 7 one of the more difficult tasks encountered by DIY 8 enthusiasts and others working in domestic environments 9 is that of negotiating fitted items, for example 10 radiators. In particular, the bathroom can be a 11 difficult location due to the presence of fixtures such 12 as the bath or basin. These fixtures are also 13 susceptible to damage either by an individual or by any 14 objects that may be dropped on them. 15 16 17 18 19 20 2337072 In addition, these types of fixtures cannot be used as a support for an individual working on the surrounding areas, for example the walls adjacent to a bath.

Furthermore, when carrying out home repairs the standard equipment, such as a drill, is usually only used for short periods. Accordingly, when not in use this equipment has to be stored safely and preferably somewhere that is readily accessible, invariably this is 2 1 not convenient for the location of the repair. The whole 2 DIY process can, therefore, be time-consuming simply due 3 to the awkwardness of working round a particular object.

4 Moreover, problems can be encountered when attempting to 6 bridge a bath to access an area such as a corner. For example, there is an increased risk of injury resulting from stretching across a bath when on ladders to reach the desired area.

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 use of a ground covering for use in locations such as 17 sports stadia. Such apparatus is inappropriate for use 18 in domestic environments, their weight making them 19 unsuitable for adaptation to such environments. 20 21 However, there are no examples of portable assemblies for 22 use as a support for an individual in domestic environments. At present, equipment such as a ladder has to be used, or some degree of balancing on the edge of the fixture is required. Clearly balancing when using potentially dangerous equipment is unsatisfactory while the disadvantages of using a ladder have been outlined above.

In the prior art there are several examples of portable assemblies. However, these assemblies are generally directed to use as part of a roadway or load-bearing apparatus. For example, GB 1,065,990 teaches the use of a foldable bridge structure and US 5,527,128 teaches the

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 It would be desirable to place a sheet or screen across a 31 bath such that said sheet or screen could be used to 32 support a user or a ladder during DIY. It would also be 33 desirable for such a screen to be easily assembled, 34 lightweight and readily portable.

3 3 4 1 2 It is an object of the present invention to provide a support for use in DIY situations that is both lightweight and portable.

6 7 8 9 10 According to the present invention there is provided a 11 portable sheet assembly for use as a user support or 12 fixture protector in domestic environments wherein said 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Each element is preferably provided with a non-slip 23 material.

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support that in use will also act as protection for the structure on which it is mounted.

assembly is formed by one or more elements interconnected by a series of hinges.

Typically the hinges are positioned to connect the one or more elements about an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the assembly in such a way that said assembly can be folded to a size suitable for storage and transport when not in use.

The one or more elements are typically made from metal, wood, plastic or any other suitable material, although a combination of said materials may be used.

Optionally the assembly may be further provided with means for securing the sheet to the domestic fixture.

The assembly may be further provided with means for fixing the position of the one or more elements relative 4 1 to each other, for example via the use of bolts or a bar threaded through the one or more elements.

2 3 4 The number of elements that may be incorporated to form 5 the assembly is preferably selected to suit the 6 dimensions of the domestic fixture.

7 8 In order to provide a better understanding of the 9 invention, embodiments will now be described by way of 10 example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures 11 in which: 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Figure 1 illustrates a portable sheet assembly in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the portable sheet assembly of Figure 1; and Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an assembly in accordance with the present invention.

21 22 23 Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a portable sheet assembly 24 is generally depicted at 1 comprising a series of 25 foldable elements 2 and a series of hinges 3. Each 26 element 2 is provided with a section of nonslip material 27 4. The arrows in Figure 2 indicate the manner in which 28 the assembly is folded for storage. Figure 3 illustrates 29 an alternative pattern 5 of the non-slip material. As 30 illustrated in Figure 2, the assembly 1 can be provided 31 with both patterns of the non- slip material. 32 33 34 When not in use the assembly 1 is stored in its folded orientation. In use the assembly 1 is extended to the 1 desired length and placed in the required position on the 2 bath. The dimensions of the assembly 1 are selected such 3 that when in use the edges of the bath provide support 4 for the assembly to prevent it collapsing and causing injury to a user.

6 7 In addition, the hinges may be selected such that they 8 are resiliently biased towards a closed position thus providing additional stability and support for the sheet assembly.

9 10 11 12 The assembly may be secured to the bath to provide 13 additional safety for the user, for example via guy ropes 14 or suitable bolts.

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 In an alternative embodiment the assembly itself may be 28 equipped with securing means, for example a bolt or bar 29 that can pass through the one or more elements 30 longitudinally,-to provide additional support.

The assembly can now be used to assist in carrying out DIY and maintenance. Once the desired work has been completed the assembly can be dismantled or folded and conveniently stored until required in the future.

In normal use the screen can act as a support for a user; as a support for equipment such as a ladder; as a convenient storage facility for any DIY tools required by the user; or as a protector for the fixture on which the screen is mounted.

31 32 An advantage of the present invention is that there is 33 provided means for supporting an individual when said 34 individual requires to perform a task above immovabl-e 6 objects that cannot themselves provide the required 2 support, for example a bath.

3 4 A further advantage of the present invention is that assembly is lightweight, readily portable and can be 6 easily stored when not in use.

7 8 9 11 Further modifications and improvements may be added 12 without departing from the scope of the invention herein 13 intended.

Furthermore, the assembly is simple and economical to manufacture.

Claims

Claims: 7 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 6.A portable sheet assembly as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the assembly is further 31 provided with means for fixing the position of the one 32 or more elements relative to each other, for example 33 via the use of bolts or a bar threaded through the one 34 or more elements.

1 A portable sheet assembly for use as a user support or fixture protector in domestic environments wherein said assembly is formed by one or more elements interconnected by a series of hinges.

2.A portable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the hinges are positioned to connect the one or more elements about an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the assembly in such a way that said assembly can be folded to a size suitable for storage and transport when not in use.

3.A portable as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 wherein each element is provided with a non-slip material.

4 A portable sheet assembly as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the one or more elements are made from metal, wood, plastic or any other suitable material, although a combination of said materials may be used.

5.A portable sheet assembly as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the assembly is further provided with means for securing the sheet to the domestic fixture.

8 1 2 7 A portable sheet assembly as claimed in any of the 3 preceding Claims wherein the number of elements that 4 may be incorporated to form the assembly is selected to suit the dimensions of the domestic fixture.