Retractable support system
OwnerLena Renee Butterfield, Benjamin Zachary Leopoldinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractable support system for use with a vehicle. The retractable support system includes a series of support structures. Each of the structures includes an upper supporting frame. The various structures are sized to enable them to be connected together in a telescoping arrangement. The structures can be selectively positioned in various arrangements that extend different amounts within the vehicle.
Claims18
A support system configured to be positioned in a vehicle, the support system comprising:
- support structures comprising a first support structure and one or more collapsible support structures, each of the support structures comprising a frame with support arms that are spaced apart and a front member that extends between and is connected to the support arms;
- a platform;
- wherein the support structures are connected together in a telescoping manner with the support arms of the one or more collapsible support structures extending over and being supported by the front member of a preceding one of the support structures;
- wherein the support structures are movable relative to each other between retracted and extended positions;
- wherein the platform is configured to extend over the support structures that are exposed;
- and
- wherein the support arms of a first one of the collapsible support structures contact against top edges of legs of the first support structure to support the support arms during movement between the extend and retracted positions.
A support system configured to be positioned in a vehicle, the support system comprising:
- a fixed support structure comprising:
- a fixed support structure frame;
- a fixed support structure cross member;
- fixed support structure legs that extend downward from the fixed support structure frame that support the fixed support structure frame above a floor of the vehicle;
- a mid support structure comprising:
- a mid support structure frame positioned on and supported by the fixed support structure cross member;
- a mid support structure cross member;
- mid support structure legs that extend downward from the mid support structure frame and support the mid support structure frame above the floor of the vehicle;
- an end support structure comprising:
- an end support structure frame positioned on and supported by the mid support structure cross member;
- a platform that is positioned on and supported by the fixed support structure frame, the mid support structure frame, and the end support structure frame;
- wherein the support system is configured to be positioned between a retracted position and extended positions;
- wherein the retracted position comprises the mid support structure and the end support structure positioned within the fixed support structure;
- and
- wherein the extended positions comprising one or both of the mid support structure and the end support structure positioned outward from the fixed support structure.
A method of using a support system that is positioned on a floor of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- positioning the support system in a retracted position with a first support structure and a second support structure in an overlapping configuration;
- positioning a platform on the first support structure when the support system is in the retracted position;
- pulling the second support structure outward away from the first support structure to an extended position and sliding arms of the second support structure across a cross member of the first support structure;
- supporting the second support structure in the extended position by contacting the arms of the second support structure on the cross member of the first support member;
- and
- extending the platform over the first support structure and the second support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.