Safety platform assembly for sanding trucks
OwnerWilliam P. Greenwoodinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible platform assembly secured to a hopper of a sanding truck allows an individual to safely observe and/or facilitate the loading of the truck hopper. The platform is pivotally mounted to a side of the hopper and is driven by an hydraulic actuator, powered by the hydraulic system of the truck, between a substantially horizontal, operational position, and a substantially vertical, storage position. The platform assembly also includes an integrated collapsible railing, an automatic lighting system to illuminate the platform area when the platform is in its operational position, and a warning indicator within the truck cab which is activated when the platform is not in its storage position.
Claims19
A collapsible platform assembly for external mounting to a side of a hopper of a truck for supporting an individual in an elevated position such that the individual can safely observe and facilitate the top loading of the truck hopper, comprising:
- a platform capable of supporting the weight of an individual;
- means for mounting the platform to an external side the truck hopper;
- and
- power driven actuating means for selectively moving the platform between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position, in its substantially horizontal position the platform being employed to support an individual at a safe location near a top opening of the truck hopper and in its substantially vertical position the platform extending below said mounting means and being stored unobtrusively at a location adjacent to said side of the truck hopper.
A collapsible platform assembly mounted onto one side of a truck hopper for supporting an individual in an elevated position such that individual can safely observe and facilitate the loading of the hopper, comprising:
- a platform capable of supporting the weight of an individual;
- means for mounting the platform onto one side of the truck hopper;
- and
- non-manual actuating means for selectively moving the platform between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position, in its substantially horizontal position the platform supports an individual at a safe location relative to the hopper and in its substantially vertical position the platform extends lower than said mounting means and is stored unobtrusively at a location proximate to said one side of the truck hopper.
A method of providing a safe support from which an individual can observe and facilitate the top loading of the hopper of a truck which comprises:
- pivotally mounting a platform capable of supporting an individual to an exterior side of a truck hopper;
- storing the pivotally mounted platform in a substantially vertical position adjacent said one side of the hopper with the platform extending downward relative to its pivotal mounting;
- providing power driven actuating means for moving the platform from said downwardly extending substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position near the top of the hopper, whereby in its substnatially horizontal position the platform can be employed to support an individual at a safe location relative to the hopper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.