US3342287A

US3342287A - Utility platform

Info

Publication number: US3342287A
Application number: US524680A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Williams; Wayburn D Downs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-02-03
Filing date: 1966-02-03
Publication date: 1967-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-19

Description

P 19, 1967 w. 1 w'lLhJAMs ETAL 3,342,287

UTILITY PLATFORM Filed Feb. 5, 1966 I NVENTORS h//& 4 A444 4 W/LL /A M3 W4 YBUP/V D. DOWNS United States Patent 3,342,287 UTILITY PLATFORM William L. Williams, 5074 Mt. Durban Drive 92117, and Wayburn D. Downs, 1205 Grand Ave. 92109, both of San Diego, Calif.

Filed Feb. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 524,680 2 Claims. (Cl. 18215) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A four-legged dolly on casters having a hingedly attached platform on one end thereof with two legs which are shorter than the legs of the dolly and the casters combined, and a utility shelf telescopically mounted above the dolly and utility platform so that a user can stand on the back platform which will secure its legs to the floor preventing rolling of the platform while utilizing the utility shelf for any desired purpose.

The present invention relates to a utility platform and more particularly to a utility platform for securely supporting a user during its utilization.

According the the invention, a utility shelf is carried by -a dolly which rests on a plurality of casters. A supporting surface is attached to one end of the dolly and extends therefrom. The supporting surface preferably has a plurality of supporting legs at its end furthest from the dolly which preferably terminate in a non-skid extremity such as rubber or plastic. The supporting surface is preferably hingedly attached to the dolly for conveniently reducing the size of the entire unit during storage for example, and facilitating easy movement between uses. During its actual utilization, the user stands or sits upon the supporting surface with the work resting on the utility shelf. The type of use contemplated would include painting, e.g., the utility shelf could hold painting equipment and the painter could stand or sit on the supporting surface. Another contemplated use would be that of stocking items in a market. Here the box of goods being stocked would be placed upon the utility shelf and the stocker could sit or stand depending upon the height of the shelves being stocked. The center of gravity of the entire unit is located for removing the supporting surface legs from contact with the surface on which the entire unit rests when the user is not standing or sitting on the supporting surface, and bringing the supporting legs into contact with the surface on which the entire unit rests when the user is standing or sitting on the supporting surface. This insures easy movement when the unit is not actually in use and a secure positioning when the unit is in use. Other novel features include a telescoping support for the utility shelf and tilt coupling between the utility shelf and the telescoping support.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a utility platform which carries the user securely during utilization thereof.

Another object is to provide a utility platform which is versatile and can be conveniently adjusted for various heights of work.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a utility platform which can be conveniently stored when not in use.

Still another object is to provide a utility platfonm which is easily movable between uses.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a utility platform which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and requires a minimum of training for use.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection witl the accompanying drawings in which like reference nu merals designate like parts throughout the figures thereo: and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodi ment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, partially sectioned, 01 a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation partially exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and 7 FIG. 4 is another side elevation view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, utility shelf 11 is carried by supporting rod 12. Supporting rod 12 is telescopically carried by mounting cylinder 13 which is telescopically carried by supporting cylinder 14. Supporting cylinder 14 is fixedly attached to top surface 16 of dolly 17. Dolly 17 has legs 18 which terminate in casters 19.

Supporting surface 21 is hingedly attached to supporting members 22 and extends between supporting cylinder 14 and front edge 23. Front edge 23 is supported by legs 24 which are hingedly attached at 30 (FIG. 3) and have supporting member 27 connecting them. Supporting legs 24 terminate in non-skid portions 26 preferably constructed of a non-skid rubber or plastic.

Referring to FIG. 2, supporting rod 12 again is telescopically received by mounting cylinder 13 and rests on compression spring 28.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, utility shelf 11 is attached to support rod 12. Supporting rod 12 again is telescopically received by mounting cylinder 13 which in turn is telescopically received by supporting cylinder 14. Rotata-ble handle 20 has a threaded extension (not shown) which is threadably received by an aperture (not shown) in flange 25 and is utilized for locking supporting rod 12 with respect to mounting cylinder 13. Supporting surface 21 is hingedly attached to supporting legs 24 at 30. Locking bracket 31 locks supporting surface 21 to supporting leg 24. Supporting surface 21 is also hingedly attached to supporting member 22 at 32 and rests on resilient grommet 33 which is attached to supporting member 22.

OPERATION Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 collectively, and assuming, for example, that the entire unit is utilized to assist in stocking shelves in a supermarket, the box of items such as canned goods to be stocked is placed on utility shelf 11. The user can then stand or sit on supporting surface 21 depending upon the height of the shelf being stocked. Supporting rod 12 being telescopically and adjusta'bly received within mounting cylinder 13 and adjusted to a convenient height again depending upon the height of the shelf being stocked. When it is desired to move the unit to a different location, the user simply gets off supporting surface 21 and supporting legs 24 will then raise off the floor allowing the unit to be wheeled by casters 19 to the next location.

A further feature of the instant invention as especially illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is U-shaped bracket 15 which is slideably received by a lower cavity underneath utility shelf 11. This is primarily for the purpose of accommodating clip boards, inventory pads, etc.

In between uses, supporting surface 21 can be conveniently folded up as shown in FIG. 4, and if desired, supporting rod 12 can be contained completely within mounting cylinder 13, minimizing storage bulk.

Should the unit be desired for purposes of taking in- Ventory, the inventory taker can simply again sit or stand on supporting surface 21 and place utility shelf 11 in any convenient position for the placement thereon for inventory tabulating sheets. Utility shelf 11 has a sliding shelf 10 which is primarily for the purpose of a running inventory or check-01f list at the time of stocking goods.

Another contemplated use would be the utilization of the unit as a painters platform. Here the container of paint would be placed on utility shelf 11 and the painter again would stand or sit on supporting surface 21, depending upon the height of the area being painted.

Referring to FIG. 2, a coil spring 28 is shown contained within mounting cylinder 13 for receiving supporting rod 12. This obviates the possibility of any sudden impact when handle 20 is loosened more easily facilitating the raising and lowering of supporting rod 12 withing mounting cylinder 13. As shown in FIG. 3, mounting cylinder 13 can be completely removed from supporting cylinder 14 for shipping and storage. If desired, utility shelf 11 can be pivotally attached to supporting rod 12 for the convenience of a user such as an inventory taker.

It should be understood of course that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A utility platform comprising:

a dolly having at least three supporting legs, each of said supporting legs terminating in a caster;

a supporting surface mechanically coupled and extending from one end of said dolly, said supporting surface terminating away from said dolly in at least one supporting leg, said supporting surfaces at least one supporting leg being dimensioned to be clear of any resting surface on which said at least three supporting legs rest; and

a utility shelf carried by said dolly and extending above said supporting surface, whereby upon users standing or sitting upon said supporting surface said at least one supporting leg will contact said resting surface securing said utility platform in a fixed position relative thereto.

2. The utility platform claim 1 wherein said supporting surface is hingedly attached to said dolly and latchable thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,222,078 11/ 1940 Kroeger 182-129 2,989,139 6/1961 Pantek 18215 3,150,743 9/ 1964 Kirchoefer 182129 3,207,261 9/ 1965 Petersen 182-120 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A UTILITY PLATFORM COMPRISING: A DOLLY HAVING AT LEAST THREE SUPPORTING LEGS, EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING LEGS TERMINATING IN A CASTER, A SUPPORTING SURFACE MECHANICALLY COUPLED AND EXTENDING FROM ONE END OF SAID DOLLY, SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE TERMINATING AWAY FROM SAID DOLLY IN AT LEAST ONE SUPPORTING LEG, SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE''S AT LEAST ONE SUPPORTING LEG BEING DEMENSIONED TO BE CLEAR OF ANY RESTING SURFACE ON WHICH SAID AT LEAST THREE SUPPORTING LEGS REST; AND A UTILITY SHELF CARRIED BY SAID DOLLY AND EXTENDING ABOVE SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, WHEREBY UPON USER''S STANDING OR SITTING UPON SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE SAID AT LEAST ONE SUPPORTING LEG WILL CONTACT SAID RESTING SURFACE SECURING SAID UTILITY PLATFORM IN A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE THERETO.