US 10,212,870 B2 · Bridging apparatus

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a bridging apparatus. The apparatus may be used to span the gap between a vertically movable storage container and a stationary floor structure when a landing of the storage container is planar to a landing of the stationary floor structure. In this invention, the bridging apparatus comprises a bracket, an overlay plate, a hinge comprising a rod, glides, and a switch, which interact with each other and with the vertically movable storage container and the stationary floor structure. As the storage container ascends, the glide of the overlay plate slides angularly contacts a vertical wall of the stationary floor structure and glides along the wall. When the storage container landing is planar with the stationary floor structure landing, the overlay plate rotates downward to a 90-degree angle, resting in a recess in the stationary floor structure landing, engaging the switch to terminate power to the vertically movable storage container.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A bridging apparatus, comprising:

a hinged overlay plate attached to a vertically moveable surface adjacent to a stationary structure, the hinged overlay plate comprising:
a glide in angular contact with a wall of the stationary structure;
and
a switch,
wherein the glide moves along the wall of the stationary structure as the moveable surface moves upward toward a coplanar position with a landing of the stationary structure, the hinged overlay plate rotating to a 90-degree angled, horizontal position as the moveable surface reaches the coplanar position, and
the switch stopping the upward motion of the moveable surface when the hinged overlay plate reaches the 90-degree angled, horizontal position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bridging apparatus

Life of this patent

Bridging apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20