Systems for releasably securing a platform
AssigneeHall Labs LLC
InventorsDavid R. Hall, Benjamin Jensen, Jonathan Marshall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for releasably securing a platform in a raised position is disclosed. A track is provided. An arm is connected at a first end to the platform. A second end, with a lug, is biased toward a side portion of the track. The lug is configured to ride in the track. As the platform is raised, the lug rides upward and enters the top portion and clears a first vertical wall, whereupon the lug rests in the depression and thus supports the platform in the raised position. As the platform is raised further, the lug clears a second vertical wall, whereupon the lug can ride downward in the side portion and through a bottom portion, past a door and out an open end of the bottom portion.
Claims20
A system for releasably securing a platform in a raised position comprising:
- a track, with a top portion having an open end, a bottom portion having an open end, and a side portion connecting the top portion and the bottom portion;
- an arm connected at a first end to the platform, and wherein a second end is biased toward the side portion of the track;
- a lug attached to the second end and configured to ride in the track, entering the open end of the top portion and exiting the open end of the bottom portion;
- a door pivotally attached adjacent the bottom portion so as to allow the lug to exit the open end of the bottom portion and prevent the lug from entering the open end of the bottom portion;
- wherein the top portion of the track comprises a depression in which the lug is supported when the platform is in the raised position, thereby supporting the platform in the raised position, and wherein the top portion of the track includes a first vertical wall separating the open end of the top portion and the depression and a second vertical wall separating the depression and the side portion, and wherein the second vertical wall extends to a higher point than the first vertical wall;
- and
- wherein the side portion comprises a downward sloping ramp, whereby the lug riding in the track is pushed toward the open end of the bottom portion when the platform is lowered;
- whereby, as the platform is raised, the lug rides upward and enters the top portion and clears the first vertical wall, whereupon the lug rests in the depression and thus supports the platform in the raised position;
- and whereby as the platform is raised further, the lug clears the second vertical wall, whereupon the lug can ride downward in the side portion and through the bottom portion, past the door and out the open end of the bottom portion.
A system configured to raise and lower a platform and to secure the platform in a raised position, comprising:
- a stationary frame;
- a platform;
- a track connected to the stationary frame, with a top portion having an open end, and a bottom portion having an open end, and a side portion connecting the top portion and the bottom portion;
- an arm connected at a first end to the platform, and wherein a second end is biased toward the second side of the track;
- a lug attached to the second end and configured to ride in the track, entering the open end of the top portion and exiting the open end of the bottom portion;
- a door pivotally attached adjacent the bottom portion so as to allow the lug to exit the open end of the bottom portion and prevent the lug from entering the open end of the bottom portion;
- wherein the top portion of the track comprises a depression in which the lug is supported when the platform is in the raised position, thereby supporting the platform in the raised position, and wherein the top portion of the track includes a first vertical wall separating the open end of the top portion and the depression and a second vertical wall separating the depression and the side portion, and wherein the second vertical wall extends to a higher point than the first vertical wall;
- and
- wherein the side portion comprises a downward sloping ramp, whereby the lug riding in the track is pushed toward the open end of the bottom portion when the platform is lowered;
- whereby, as the platform is raised, the lug rides upward and enters the top portion and clears the first vertical wall, whereupon the lug rests in the depression and thus supports the platform in the raised position;
- and whereby as the platform is raised further, the lug clears the second vertical wall, whereupon the lug can ride downward in the side portion, past the door and out the open end of the bottom portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.