Powered tiltable platform
AssigneeSlopemaster Golf, Inc.
InventorsDarrel John Wood, David Matthew Dent
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tiltable platform suitable for a golf practice stand provides a rigid stable platform and is easily tiltable in all directions. The platform has a first guide track and a second guide track arranged in a cruciform configuration thereunder with a centre intersection. A base is provided under the platform and supports a first frame member under the first guide track and a second frame member under the second guide track with opposite sloped linkage arms. First and second linear actuators tilt the platform in two planes representing the first guide track and the second guide track by pivoting the linkage arms and an operating control for the actuators permits adjustment of the slope of the platform.
Claims23
A powered tiltable platform comprising:
- a platform having a first guide track and a second guide track arranged in a cruciform configuration thereunder with a centre intersection;
- a base positioned underneath the platform having support members underneath the first guide track and the second guide track of the platform;
- a first frame member beneath and in line with the first guide track, retained to the platform and slidable relative to the platform in a first path parallel to the first guide track;
- first opposite sloped linkage arms joining the first frame member to the support members of the base on each side of the centre intersection of the platform;
- a first adjustable linear actuator on one side of the first frame member, the first actuator having a fully extended position when the first sloped linkage arms tilt the platform to a maximum slope away from the first actuator, and a fully retracted position when the first sloped linkage arms tilt the platform to a maximum slope towards the first actuator;
- a second frame member beneath and in line with the second guide track, retained to the platform and slidable in a second path parallel to the second guide track;
- second opposite sloped linkage arms joining the second frame member to the support members of the base on each side of the centre intersection of the platform;
- a second adjustable linear actuator on one side of the second frame member, the second actuator having a fully extended position when the second sloped linkage arms tilt the platform to a maximum slope away from the second actuator, and a fully retracted position when the second sloped linkage arms tilt the platform to a maximum slope towards the second actuator, and
- an operating control for the first actuator and the second actuator to adjust the slope of the platform.
A powered tiltable platform comprising:
- a platform having a central pivotal connection underneath with a first guide track and a second guide track arranged in a cruciform configuration underneath the platform, the central pivotal connection at the centre of the cruciform configuration;
- a base positioned underneath the platform having support members underneath the first guide track and the second guide track of the platform and a post support extending up from the base to the central pivotal connection to support the platform for tilting in any direction;
- a first movable frame beneath and in line with the first guide track, having a first guide at each end of the first frame to engage the first guide track on each side of the central pivotal connection;
- first opposite sloped linkage arms joining the first frame to the support members of the base on each side of the post support;
- a first adjustable linear actuator on one side of the first frame, the first actuator having a fully extended position when the first guide at each end of the first frame tilts the platform to a maximum slope away from the first actuator, and a fully retracted position when the first guide at each end of the first frame tilts the platform to a maximum slope towards the first actuator;
- a second movable frame beneath and in line with the second guide track, having a second guide at each end of the second frame to engage the second guide track on each side of the central pivotal connection;
- second opposite sloped linkage arms joining the second frame to the support members of the base on each side of the post support;
- a second adjustable linear actuator on one side of the second frame, the second actuator having a fully extended position when the second guide at each end of the second frame tilts the platform to a maximum slope away from the second actuator, and a fully retracted position when the second guide at each end of the second frame tilts the platform to a maximum slope towards the second actuator, and
- an operating control for the first actuator and the second actuator to adjust the slope of the platform.
A method of tilting a platform having a first guide track and a second guide track thereunder arranged in a cruciform configuration with a centre intersection, a first frame member and a second frame member retained to the platform and slidable in paths parallel to the first guide track and the second guide track respectively, and first and second opposite sloped linkage arms joining the first and second frame members respectively to a base, the method comprising the step of:
- sliding the first frame member and the second frame member in the respective paths so the first and second linkage arms tilt the platform in planes corresponding to the cruciform configuration of the first and second guide track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.