Elevated worker support platform with extension assembly

Abstract

An elevated worker support platform includes a main platform and an extension assembly having a longitudinal sliding extension frame and an upwardly folding extension platform supported on the extension frame to provide a rigid underlying support to the extension platform while also enabling the platform to be supported at the same elevational as the main platform. A railing for use alongside the extension assembly may also be formed of rigid sections that are foldable so that the railing can extend and retract with the extension platform. The main platform may be formed in sections spanning between upright columns in which cradles formed on the top of each column receive the platform section securely and in proper alignment therein until fasteners can more securely attach the platform sections to the columns.

1 . An elevated platform assembly comprising:
 a main frame including a plurality of upright columns;   a main platform supported at an elevated location on the upright columns, the main platform having an upper supporting surface arranged to receive workers supported thereon;   an extension frame extending in a longitudinal direction between a proximal end and a distal end of the extension frame, the extension frame being supported on the main frame for translating movement in the longitudinal direction relative to the main frame between an extended position in which the proximal end is adjacent to the main frame and the distal end protrudes outwardly relative to the main frame and a retracted position in which the distal end is nearer to the main frame than in the extended position; and   an extension platform supported on the extension frame, the extension platform including a first panel adjacent to the distal end of the extension frame and a second panel nearer to the proximal end of the extension frame than the first panel, the first panel being pivotally coupled to the distal end of the extension frame for pivoting about a first axis, the second panel being pivotally coupled to the main frame for pivotal movement about a second axis, and the first and second panels being pivotally coupled to one another about a third axis at an intermediate location between the first axis and the second axis;   whereby the first and second panels are pivotal together with translating movement of the extension frame relative to the main frame between the extended position in which the first and second panels extend in the longitudinal direction so as to be arranged to receive said workers supported on an upper supporting surface of the first and second panels and the retracted position in which the third axis is displaced upwardly relative to the extended position such that the first and second panels are folded relative to one another into an upright orientation of the panels.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising rollers supported between the extension frame and the main frame to support the extension frame for said translating movement between the extended position and the retracted position. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the rollers include first rollers supported at the proximal end of the extension frame in rolling contact with the main frame and second rollers supported on the main frame in rolling contact with the extension frame between the proximal end and the distal end of the extension frame. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the extension platform includes two or more joists extending in the longitudinal direction of the extension frame in the extended position, each joist including a first joist section supporting the first panel thereon and a second joist section supporting the second panel thereon, the first and second joist sections defining the pivotal connections of the extension platform at the first axis, the second axis and the third axis. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of at least one of the panels extends longitudinally beyond the third axis to be received within a corresponding recess in the other panel in the extended position. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a portion of each of the first panel and the second panel extends longitudinally beyond the third axis to be received within a corresponding recess in the other one of the first panel and the second panel in the extended position. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the distal end of the extension frame includes a first mating connector and a second mating connector thereon, wherein the first mating connector is arranged to mate with the second mating connector of a second elevated platform assembly of like configuration and the second mating connector is arranged to mate with the first mating connector of said second elevated platform assembly of like configuration, whereby the extension platforms of the elevated platform assemblies are arranged to be coupled to form a bridge between the main platforms of the elevated platform assemblies in the extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the upper supporting surface of the first and second panels is substantially flush with the upper supporting surface of the main platform. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an intermediate frame supporting the extension frame relative to the main frame; 
 the intermediate frame being supported on the main frame for translating movement in a lateral direction relative to the main frame in which the lateral direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the extension frame; and 
 the extension frame being supported on the intermediate frame for said translating movement in the longitudinal direction relative to the intermediate frame. 
 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the intermediate frame is supported on intermediate rollers in rolling contact with track members mounted in fixed relation to the main frame. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 9  further comprising a lateral drive motor operatively connected between the main frame and the intermediate frame so as to be arranged to drive movement of the extension frame in the lateral direction and a longitudinal drive motor operatively connected between the intermediate frame and the extension frame so as to be arranged to drive movement of the extension frame in the longitudinal direction, the lateral drive motor and the longitudinal drive motor being operable independently of one another. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising a gap panel pivotally supported on the main frame alongside the main platform to extend longitudinally of the extension frame towards the distal end of the extension frame in the extended position in interference with the displacement of the extension platform towards the retracted position whereby the gap panel is upwardly pivotal in response to displacement of the extension platform towards the retracted position. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising a railing extending in the longitudinal direction of the extension frame in the extended position, the railing comprising:
 a first railing post supported in fixed relation to the extension frame in proximity to the distal end of the extension frame; 
 a second railing post supported in fixed relation to the main frame; and 
 a railing member including a first section pivotally coupled to the first railing post about a first axis and a second section pivotally coupled to the second railing post about a second axis, wherein the first and second sections are pivotally coupled relative to one another about a third axis lying parallel to the first and second axes whereby the first and second sections of the railing member are pivotal together with translating movement of the extension frame relative to the main frame between the extended position in which the first and second sections extend in the longitudinal direction end to end with one another and the retracted position in which the first and second sections are folded relative to one another. 
 
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of main platforms, each main platform having (i) a platform frame including a plurality of rails extending longitudinally between ends of the rails at opposing ends of the main platform and (ii) an upper supporting surface arranged to support workers thereon, the main platforms being arranged to be supported at an elevated location on the upright columns such that the main platforms extend longitudinally end-to-end with one another; and 
 a cradle mounted at a top end of each column in which the cradle has longitudinally opposing open ends and is at least partly open at a top of the cradle whereby the cradle is arranged to receive the ends of the rails of two corresponding ones of the main platforms inserted downwardly into the cradle; 
 wherein each cradle further includes a primary fastener flange fixed thereon; and 
 wherein one of the ends of each rail of the corresponding main platforms includes a secondary fastener flange fixed thereon and arranged to be fastened to the primary fastener flange of the corresponding cradle when the ends of the rails are received within the corresponding cradle. 
 
     
     
         15 . An elevated platform assembly comprising:
 a main frame including a plurality of upright columns;   a main platform supported at an elevated location on the upright columns, the main platform having an upper supporting surface arranged to receive workers supported thereon;   an extension frame extending in a longitudinal direction between a proximal end and a distal end of the extension frame, the extension frame being supported on the main frame for translating movement in the longitudinal direction relative to the main frame between an extended position in which the proximal end is adjacent to the main frame and the distal end protrudes outwardly relative to the main frame and a retracted position in which the distal end is nearer to the main frame than in the extended position;   an extension platform supported on the extension frame including one or more panels arranged to receive said workers supported on an upper supporting surface of the one or more panels in the extended position of the extension frame; and   a railing extending in the longitudinal direction of the extension frame in the extended position, the railing comprising:
 a first railing post supported in fixed relation to the extension frame in proximity to the distal end of the extension frame; 
 a second railing post supported in fixed relation to the main frame; and 
 a railing member including a first section pivotally coupled to the first railing post about a first axis and a second section pivotally coupled to the second railing post about a second axis, wherein the first and second sections are pivotally coupled relative to one another about a third axis lying parallel to the first and second axes whereby the first and second sections of the railing member are pivotal together with translating movement of the extension frame relative to the main frame between the extended position in which the first and second sections extend in the longitudinal direction end to end with one another and the retracted position in which the first and second sections are folded relative to one another. 
   
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 15  wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are vertically oriented whereby the railing member is folded laterally outwardly from the extension platform in the retracted position of the extension frame relative to the extended position. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly according to  claim 15  further comprising:
 an intermediate railing post supported between the first railing post and the second railing post in pivotal connection with each of the first section and the second section of the railing member; and 
 a lower member including a first section pivotally coupled to the first railing post below the first section of the railing member and a second section pivotally coupled to the second railing post below the second section of the railing member; 
 wherein the first and second sections of the lower member are pivotally coupled to the intermediate railing post below the third axis; 
 wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are horizontally oriented whereby the intermediate post is displaced upwardly and the railing member is folded upwardly in the retracted position of the extension frame relative to the extended position. 
 
     
     
         18 . An elevated platform assembly comprising:
 a main frame including a plurality of upright columns;   a plurality of main platforms, each main platform having (i) a platform frame including a plurality of rails extending longitudinally between ends of the rails at opposing ends of the main platform and (ii) an upper supporting surface arranged to support workers thereon, the main platforms being arranged to be supported at an elevated location on the upright columns such that the main platforms extend longitudinally end-to-end with one another; and   a cradle mounted at a top end of each column in which the cradle has longitudinally opposing open ends and is at least partly open at a top of the cradle whereby the cradle is arranged to receive the ends of the rails of two corresponding ones of the main platforms inserted downwardly into the cradle;   wherein each cradle further includes a primary fastener flange fixed thereon; and   wherein one of the ends of each rail of the corresponding main platforms includes a secondary fastener flange fixed thereon and arranged to be fastened to the primary fastener flange of the corresponding cradle when the ends of the rails are received within the corresponding cradle.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly according to  claim 18  wherein the cradle provides support to the rail of the main platform received therein both vertically and laterally of the main platform, the assembly further comprising a fastener received through the primary and second fasteners flanges in which the fastener provides support to the rail of the platform primarily longitudinally of the main platform. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly according to  claim 18  wherein the cradle includes a pair of side flanges providing lateral support to the rail of the main platform received therein, the side flanges being oriented parallel to the primary and secondary fastener flanges located between the side flanges, and the side flanges having access openings formed therein through which fastening tools can be received to fasten a fastener through the primary and secondary fastener flanges.