GB2620901A

GB2620901A - An elevated work support device

Info

Publication number: GB2620901A
Application number: GB2203284.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vervuurt Fritz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-03-09
Filing date: 2022-03-09
Publication date: 2024-01-31
Also published as: GB202203284D0

Abstract

An elevated work support device 99 comprises a platform 4 with an upper face adapted to receive ladders and a plurality of legs 8 depending below a lower face. The legs are arranged to displace from a first position proximate the platform to a second position extending away from platform and are length adjustable to a selected length. At least one of the legs is arranged to extend to a different position or selectable length to another leg (Fig 6a). The platform includes raised portions 1, 3 to limit lateral movement and longitudinal movement from the top face of the platform. The raised portions may comprise rails 1 or L-shaped stoppers 3.

Description

AN ELEVATED WORK SUPPORT DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an elevated work support device, in particular a device for working at height; more particularly but not exclusively for working with ladders at height.

Background,

Working at height can be problematic for many reasons, and in societies that are increasingly concerned with health and safety issues, it can be difficult to ensure that a worker is safe.

For example when working on uneven surfaces it can be problematic to obtain a level surface to work from. Such uneven surfaces may include stairs, or natural surfaces, and may differ greatly one from another.

Additionally or alternatively, when working at height, for example using a ladder or step-ladder, it can be problematic to ensure that the ladder is securely and stably located when the surface worked on is uneven. As a result it is desirable to ensure a level surface to place the ladder upon.

Prior Art

GB 2017 16 844 (BLACK) discloses a support apparatus for supporting a user in an elevated working position above a ground surface, the support apparatus comprising: a frame for supporting a floor portion of the support apparatus, the frame having a length and a width; and a plurality of leg members mounted to the frame for supporting the frame above the ground surface, each leg member having a foot portion for engaging the ground surface, wherein each leg member is rotatably mounted to the frame for rotation about a rotational axis which is substantially perpendicular to the width and the length of the frame, and wherein each leg member extends from the frame in a radial direction of the rotational axis, whereby the foot portion is offset from the rotational axis.

JP 2005 105 553 (CHIKAMORI et al) discloses a working scaffold base that has a top plate and legs supporting the top plate from beneath. The legs have short legs and long legs having mutually different length. An extensible fixing mechanism is provided in the long legs, and a freely foldable structure is provided in the joint between the top plate and the legs. The scaffolding base has a handrail frame and rotary shaft. During ascending on the plate, while opening the handrail frame, one climbs up from the short legs side.

DE 3 605 386 (GLOEDE et al) discloses a working platform for bricklaying, plastering, painting and the like, which exhibits a load-bearing working board, upon which it is possible to walk, and legs supporting said board, to connect the legs, to the working board such that they can be individually vertically adjusted and released. Couplings for the releasable connection of the legs to the working board are provided on the edges or corners of the working board, with the result that the working platform can also be set up on an uneven or inclined underlying surface and on a stairway.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an elevated work support device comprising: a platform with an upper face adapted to receive a ladders and a plurality of legs depending below a lower face; the legs arranged to displace from a first position proximate the platform to a second position extending away from platform by a selectable length; wherein at least one of the legs is arranged to extend to a different position or selectable length to another leg; and wherein the platform includes raised portions to limit lateral movement and longitudinal movement from the top face of the platform.

In some embodiments the raised portions comprise rails. Such rails extend vertically from the platform, or around the platform, to form handrails, for example in cylindrical metal tubing.

In some embodiments the rails are displaceable from the platform, for example wherein the rails are emplaced into sockets, which sockets may comprise locking means. In this way it may be envisaged that the rails may be displaced from the device for transport or storage.

In some embodiments the raised portions comprise L-shaped stoppers. Such stoppers may be envisaged to provide elevated stops from the upper face for receipt of the step-ladder feet, and may be located at either ends of a rectangular platform, so as to limit or prevent longitudinal movement of the ladder feet from the upper face.

In some such embodiments the raised portions comprise stoppers displaceable from the platform. Such stoppers may therefore be displaced for transport or storage of the device, and/or may be capable of rearrangement on the upper face in other embodiments.

In some embodiments the one or more of the legs is secured to the platform at an articulation. Such articulation may enable the legs to extend from the platform at more than one orientation or angle with respect to the other legs and/or lower face of the platform. In some such embodiments it may be envisaged that the one or more of the legs is secured to the platform at a pivot. Such pivot or articulation may be arranged to allow the leg to be folded against the lower face for transport or storage. It may be further envisaged that the legs may be displaceable from the device in other embodiments, for transport or storage of the device.

In some embodiments the one or more of the legs is telescopic, for example coaxially telescopic, so as to alter length. Such length extension may be locked by a locking means, for example a pin and hole arrangement and/or spring-biasing, and/or threaded locking means.

In some embodiments the legs comprise feet which may include resilient material and a raised and lowered surface for friction. Such feet may be arranged to pivot on the legs, so as to accommodate uneven surfaces more effectively.

In some embodiments the legs comprise bracing struts to the platform. In this way the struts may support, andlor control the orientation or position of the leg.

In some such embodiments the strut is adapted to secure to one of a plurality of locations on the leg so as to control the position of the leg, and provide a means of altering the leg angle.

In some embodiments the platform comprises elongate rails on a lower face, within which rails legs are adapted to slide, so as to alter the position of the leg at the lower face, thereby accommodating uneven flooring.

In some embodiments at least one of the legs has a threaded position adjustment mechanism. Advantageously this mechanism may enable the leg to be finely adjusted in length and/or position, such that the mechanism may enable fine adjustment to correct the level of the platform in use, after the other legs have been positioned and lengthened accordingly.

In some embodiments the device comprises one or more bubble levels to allow a user to check levelness.

In some embodiments the platform includes one or more handles, such that the device is easy to carry when in a mode for transport or storage, for example with the raised portions and legs displaced or collapsed.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description flumes

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with legs in a second position; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with legs in a first position; Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an isometric detail view of a leg from the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figures 6 show side views of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, with front legs in different positions to rear legs; And Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 3, with stoppers displaced.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the Figures there is shown an embodiment of a support device 99 generally comprising: a platform 2 and a plurality of legs 8; the legs arranged to displace from a first position as shown in Figure 3 proximate the platform to a second position as shown in Figure 1 and 6 extending away from platform by a length; wherein each one of the legs is arranged to extend to a different position or length to another leg; and wherein the platform includes raised portions 1,3 to limit lateral movement from the platform, for example of a person (through raised portions 1) or a ladder (through raised portions 3).

In particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the embodiment comprises raised portions 1 that are comprised by rails which extend upwards from the top face of the platform, pass through the platform into sockets 6.

The rails 1 can be displaced from the sockets, and the sockets include threaded grub screws or bolts 16 to secure the rails 1. The rails comprise inverted U shapes with a central lateral bar.

The platform is thin, planar and rectangular with radiused corners, and the top face of the platform includes a central rectangular rubber coating, sheet or pad 4.

In the corners of the pad are three holes for receipt of L shaped stoppers 3. These are L shaped in plan view and extend upwards a little from the platform, so as to accept ladders feet and prevent ladder movement.

The three holes include a central diagonal slot for engagement.

Four legs extend below the lower face of the platform, proximate each corner in the pictured embodiment.

The legs 8 are located to slid in rails 10 which run parallel the sides of the platform.

The legs are secured into the rails at a runner 11, and comprise coaxially telescopic girder members which include axially spaced holes, and which are secured at a length by a pin 9.

The legs have pivoting feet 13 at the distal end from the runner 11.

The runners 11 provide a pivot 55, and three of the four legs comprise bracing members 12 which are secured to the legs 8 at pivoting pins 19 and to the rail at pivoting pins also, allowing the bracing members to alter in angle at the leg and slide along the rail as well as alter in angle there, so as to act with and accommodate the pivoting of the leg, as well as the extension of the leg.

Claims

Claims 1. An elevated work support device comprising: a platform with an upper face adapted to receive ladders and a plurality of legs depending below a lower face; the legs arranged to displace from a first position proximate the platform to a second position extending away from platform by a selectable length; wherein at least one of the legs is arranged to extend to a different position or selectable length to another leg; and wherein the platform includes raised portions to limit lateral movement and longitudinal movement from the top face of the platform.
2. An elevated work support device according to claim 1 wherein raised portions comprise rails.
3. An elevated work support device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein rails are displaceable from the platform.
4. An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein raised portions comprise L-shaped stoppers.
5. An elevated work support device according to claim 4 wherein the raised portions comprise stoppers displaceable from the platform.
6. An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein one or more of the legs is secured to the platform at an articulation.
7. An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein one or more of the legs is secured to the platform at a pivot.
8. An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein one or more of the legs is telescopic.
9. An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein the legs comprise feet.
10. An elevated work support device according to claim 9 wherein the feet are arranged to pivot on the legs.
11. An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein the legs comprise bracing struts to the platform.
12. An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein the strut is adapted to secure to one of a plurality of locations on the leg.
13.An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein the platform comprises elongate rails on a lower face, within which rails legs are adapted to slide.
14.An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the legs has a threaded position adjustment mechanism.
15. An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim comprising one or more bubble levels.
16. An elevated work support device according to any preceding claim wherein the platform includes one or more handles.