Work Platform For Vehicle

Abstract

One embodiment of a work platform for a vehicle may include a support structure. The support structure may include an elongated hollow member configured by a plurality of hollow sections spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of connecting members extending from the plurality of hollow sections. The work platform may also include a plurality of pins, each having an annular head and a tail extending from the annular head. The plurality of pins may be received between the plurality of hollow sections for allowing the annular head of the plurality of pins to conform with the plurality of hollow sections of the elongated hollow member. The work platform may further include a shaft adapted to be received through the conformed annular heads and the plurality of hollow sections. Further, the work platform may include a plate member carried by the plurality of connecting members of the support structure.

1 . A work platform for a vehicle, the work platform comprising:
 a support structure comprising
 an elongated hollow member configured as a plurality of aligned hollow sections spaced apart from each other, and 
 a plurality of connecting members extending from the plurality of hollow sections; 
   a plurality of pins, each pin of the plurality of pins comprising a hollow head and a tail extending from the head, wherein each pin hollow head is received between and aligned with a pair of adjacent hollow sections of the plurality of hollow sections;   a shaft received through the aligned hollow sections of the plurality of hollow sections and through the pin hollow heads aligned with the hollow sections; and   a plate member carried by the plurality of connecting members,   wherein the support structure is rotatable about the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The work platform of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is configured so as to be rotatable to and securable in at least a first angular position associated with to an open configuration of the work platform, and a second angular position different from the first angular position associated with a closed configuration of the work platform. 
     
     
         3 . The work platform of  claim 1 , wherein the tail of the each pin of the plurality of pins is adapted to be carried by a side wall of a bed of the vehicle for mounting the support structure with the shaft on the side wall of the vehicle, and further comprising a plurality of pin receptacles adapted to be associated with the side wall of the vehicle, wherein each pin receptacle of the plurality of pin receptacles is adapted to receive a respective tail of the plurality of pins for mounting the support structure with the shaft on the side wall of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The work platform of  claim 1  wherein the shaft is slidable within a cavity defined by the aligned hollow sections of the plurality of hollow sections and the pin hollow heads aligned with the aligned hollow sections, and wherein the work platform further comprises a locking mechanism configured for selectively locking the support structure to prevent rotatable movement thereof about the shaft the locking mechanism comprising:
 at least one spring member positioned within the cavity and operatively coupled to the shaft   a protrusion extending from an outer surface of the shaft,   a push button operatively coupled to the shaft   a pair of first channels formed along an inner surface of a rotatable hollow section of the plurality of hollow sections; and   a second channel formed along an inner surface of a pin hollow head adjacent the hollow section of the plurality of hollow sections, the second channel being aligned in line with one of the pair of first channels,   wherein the protrusion is adapted to be received partially by a first channel of the pair of first channels and partially by the second channel inline with the first channel, for locking the rotatable hollow section of the plurality of hollow sections with respect to the adjacent pin hollow head and thereby locking the pivotal movement of the support structure, and   wherein the push button is adapted to be pressed for slidably moving the shaft within the cavity for moving the protrusion from the first channel and allowing the protrusion to be received completely in the second channel, for unlocking the rotatable hollow section of the plurality of hollow sections from the adjacent pin hollow head and thereby unlocking the pivotal movement of the support structure.   
     
     
         5 . The work platform of  claim 2 , wherein the plate member comprises:
 a rod connected to the plurality of connecting members,   a pair of plate portions, one of the pair of plate portions connected to the rod, and   a hinge mechanism hingedly securing the pair of plate portions to each other, the hinge mechanism being configured to permit the pair of plate portions to attain a folded state in the closed configuration of the work platform and an unfolded state in the open configuration of the work platform, wherein the open configuration of the work platform provides the work surface.