ROLLING PLATFORM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a rolling platform used particularly, but not exclusively, in the building construction industry to provide access platforms extending past the edge of floors of buildings during their construction, the rolling platform being cantilevered from the end of the floor and also having the ability to fully retract from its extended position.

[0002] Conventional rolling platforms (see e.g. WO-98/53161) used for providing access platforms off the edge of floors of buildings during their construction, comprise a static frame and a rolling frame, the static frame extends partly from the edge of the floor and the rolling frame can be extended even further from the edge of the floor.

[0003] However, the disadvantage of these conventional platforms is that the static frame extends outwardly from the floor and this extension means that the rolling frame (and the whole platform) can not be retracted flush with the edge of the floor, during use.

[0004] It is one object of the present invention to provide a platform wherein the rolling frame fully retracts to be flush with the edge of the floor, whilst still being supported by the static frame.

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a rolling platform for use in providing access platforms extending past the edge of floors of buildings during their construction, the platform comprising: a first, static frame which is securable to the building; a second, movable frame which is telescopically slidable with respect to the first frame between an extended and a retracted position; and roller means positioned between the first frame and the second frame to permit relative sliding movement between the frames; and wherein further roller means are provided, said further roller means being arranged to engage and support the second, movable frame as it is moved toward and is in the fully retracted position.

[0006] Preferably the first, static frame is an outer frame and the second movable frame is an inner frame which telescopes within the outer frame.

[0007] Preferably also, the inner frame is of greater length than the outer frame.

[0008] The first-mentioned roller means may comprise rollers at the rear of the inner frame bearing on the outer frame, and rollers at the front of the outer frame bearing on the inner frame; and the further roller means may comprise rollers at the rear of the outer frame which engage with a rail at the rear of the inner frame as the latter is retracted.

[0009] Preferably, when the second, movable frame is fully retracted, no part of the rolling platform extends outwardly (away from the building) from the edge of the floor.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs 1a and 1b show cross-sectional elevational and plan views respectively of the rolling platform of the present invention, the platform being in the extended position;

Fig 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an inner frame of Fig 1, to an enlarged scale;

Fig 3 is a plan view corresponding to Fig 2;

Fig 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig 1;

Fig 5 is a detail of Fig 4 to an enlarged scale;

Fig 6 is a side view of parts of the inner frame in more detail;

Fig 7 is a plan view corresponding to Fig 6;

Fig 8 is a side view of parts of the outer frame in more detail;

Fig 9 is a cross-section on the line B-B of Fig 8;

Fig 10 is a cross-section on the line C-C of Fig 8;

Fig 11 is a plan view corresponding to Fig 8; and

Fig 11a is a cross-section on the line A-A of Fig 11 to an enlarged scale.

[0011] Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a rolling platform 10. The rolling platform 10 comprises an outer static frame 11 and an inner movable frame 20. The outer static frame 11 is in the form of two I-sections 12a and 12b joined by a plate 14 to form a generally channel-shaped element. The inner movable frame 20 is in the form of two I-sections 21a and 21b joined by a plate 22 to form a generally channel-shaped element.

[0012] The inner movable frame 20 is telescopically slidable within the outer static frame 11 and can slide between an extended (see Fig. 1a) and a retracted position.

[0013] The rolling platform 10 is used in the building industry to provide an access platform which extends past the edge 15 of floors of a building during its construction.

[0014] The rolling platform 10 is clamped to the building by placing the platform 10 on the floor with a first end 16a flush with the edge 15 of the building. The platform 10 is then secured in the clamped position by way of a number of clamping pillars 17a and 17b (others not shown) which clamp between the outer static frame 11 and the ceiling (not shown).

[0015] The inner movable frame 20 slides within the outer static frame 11 by roller means in the form of a pair of first rollers 30 and pairs of second and third rollers 31a and 31b which are all positioned between the inner movable frame 20 and the outer static frame 11 and permit relative sliding movement between the respective frames 11, 20 thus allowing the inner movable frame 20 to telescopically move out of the outer static frame 11, thus providing an access platform which extends outwardly (away from the building) from the edge 15 of the floor.

[0016] A further roller means in the form of rollers 32 is fitted to the outer static frame 11 and is arranged to engage a track 40 provided on the inner movable frame 20 to provide support for the inner movable frame 20 when it is retracted and the rollers 31a and 31b no longer engage with the outer static frame 11 due to the outer static frame 11 being shorter in length than the inner movable frame 20.

[0017] Lateral guidance is provided by vertical rollers 33 located near the front of the outer static frame 11, and by axially spaced vertical rollers 34 and 35 located toward the rear of the inner movable frame 20. the rollers 35 being sufficiently inboard to remain in engagement when the inner movable frame 20 is fully retracted.

[0018] Alternatively, if the inner movable frame 20 and the outer static frame 11 are similar in length, the further roller means 32 can still be utilised to give additional support to the inner movable frame 20 even though the rollers 31a and 31b may still be in contact with the outer static frame 11.

[0019] The rolling platform described above, provides a platform 10 which is positioned flush with the edge 15 of the floor and which permits the inner movable frame 20 to fully retract within the outer static frame 11 such that when fully retracted, no part of the rolling platform extends outwardly (away from the building) from the edge 15 of the floor.

Claims

1. A rolling platform for use in providing access platforms extending past the edge of floors of buildings during their construction, the platform comprising: a first, static frame (11) which is securable to the building; a second, movable frame (20) which is telescopically slidable with respect to the first static frame (11) between an extended and a retracted position; and roller means (30, 31a, 31b) positioned between the first static frame (11) and the second movable frame (20) to permit relative sliding movement between the frames; characterised in that further roller means (32) are provided, said further roller means (32) being arranged to engage and support the second movable frame (20) as it is moved toward and is in the fully retracted position.

2. A rolling platform according to claim 1, in which the first static frame (11) is an outer frame and the second movable frame (20) is an inner frame which telescopes within the outer frame.

3. A rolling platform according to claim 2, in which the inner frame (20) is of greater length than the outer frame (11).

4. A rolling platform according to claim 3, in which the first-mentioned roller means (30,31a,31b) comprises rollers (31a,31b) at the rear of the inner frame (20) bearing on the outer frame (11), and rollers (30) at the front of the outer frame (11) bearing on the inner frame (20).

5. A rolling platform according to claim 4, in which the further roller means (32) comprises rollers at the rear of the outer frame which engage with a rail (40) at the rear of the inner frame as the latter is retracted.

6. A rolling platform according to any preceding claim in which, when the second movable frame (20) is fully retracted, no part of the rolling platform extends outwardly (away from the building) from the edge of the floor.

Ansprüche

1. Eine Rollplattform zur Verwendung beim Bereitstellen von Zugangsplattformen, welche über den Rand von Fußböden von Rohbauten hinausragen; wobei die Plattform Folgendes beinhaltet: einen ersten, statischen Rahmen (11), der am Gebäude befestigt werden kann; einen zweiten, beweglichen Rahmen (20), der mit Bezug auf den ersten, statischen Rahmen (11), zwischen einer hinausragenden und einer eingezogenen Stellung teleskopartig ausgezogen und zusammengeschoben werden kann, sowie Rollmittel (30, 31a, 31b), die zwischen dem ersten, statischen Rahmen (11) und dem zweiten, beweglichen Rahmen (20) positioniert sind, um eine relative Verschiebebewegung zwischen den Rahmen zu ermöglichen; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass weitere Rollmittel (32) bereitgestellt sind, wobei die weiteren Rollmittel (32) so angeordnet sind, dass sie in den zweiten, beweglichen Rahmen (20) eingreifen und ihn tragen, wenn er in die vollkommen eingezogene Stellung bewegt wird und sich in der vollkommen eingezogenen Stellung befindet.

2. Rollplattform gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der erste, statische Rahmen (11) ein äußerer Rahmen und der zweite, bewegliche Rahmen (20) ein innerer Rahmen ist, der innerhalb des äußeren Rahmens teleskopartig ausgezogen und zusammengeschoben werden kann.

3. Rollplattform gemäß Anspruch 2, wobei der innere Rahmen (20) eine größere Länge aufweist als der äußere Rahmen (11).

4. Rollplattform gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei das zuerst erwähnte Rollmittel (30, 31a, 31b) Rollen (31a, 31b) an der Hinterseite des inneren Rahmens (20), die auf dem äußeren Rahmen (11) aufliegen, und Rollen (30) an der Vorderseite des äußeren Rahmens (11), die auf dem inneren Rahmen (20) aufliegen, beinhaltet.

5. Rollplattform gemäß Anspruch 4, wobei das weitere Rollmittel (32) Rollen an der Hinterseite des äußeren Rahmens, die in eine Schiene (40) an der Hinterseite des inneren Rahmens eingreifen, wenn dieser eingezogen wird, beinhaltet.

6. Rollplattform gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei, wenn der zweite, bewegliche Rahmen (20) vollkommen eingezogen ist, kein Stück der Rollplattform über den Rand des Fußbodens nach außen (vom Gebäude abstehend) hinausragt.

Revendications

1. Une plate-forme roulante destinée à être utilisée pour fournir des plates-formes d'accès s'étendant au-delà du bord de planchers de bâtiments durant leur construction, la plate-forme comportant : un premier cadre statique (11) qui peut être assujetti au bâtiment ; un deuxième cadre amovible (20) qui peut coulisser de façon télescopique par rapport au premier cadre statique (11) entre une position étendue et une position rétractée ; et des moyens formant rouleaux (30, 31a, 31b) positionnés entre le premier cadre statique (11) et le deuxième cadre amovible (20) pour permettre un déplacement coulissant relatif entre les cadres ; caractérisée en ce que des moyens formant rouleaux supplémentaires (32) sont fournis, lesdits moyens formant rouleaux supplémentaires (32) étant arrangés pour se mettre en prise avec le deuxième cadre amovible (20) et pour soutenir celui-ci à mesure qu'il est déplacé en direction de la position pleinement rétractée et qu'il se trouve dans celle-ci.

2. Une plate-forme roulante selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle le premier cadre statique (11) est un cadre externe et le deuxième cadre amovible (20) est un cadre interne qui se télescope au sein du cadre externe.

3. Une plate-forme roulante selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle le cadre interne (20) est de longueur supérieure au cadre externe (11).

4. Une plate-forme roulante selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle les moyens formant rouleaux mentionnés en premier (30, 31a, 31b) comportent des rouleaux (31a, 31b) à l'arrière du cadre interne (20) s'appuyant sur le cadre externe (11), et des rouleaux (30) à l'avant du cadre externe (11) s'appuyant sur le cadre interne (20).

5. Une plate-forme roulante selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle les moyens formant rouleaux supplémentaires (32) comportent des rouleaux à l'arrière du cadre externe qui se mettent en prise avec un rail (40) à l'arrière du cadre interne à mesure que ce dernier est rétracté.

6. Une plate-forme roulante selon n'importe quelle revendication précédente dans laquelle, lorsque le deuxième cadre amovible (20) est pleinement rétracté, aucune partie de la plate-forme roulante ne s'étend vers l'extérieur (à l'écart du bâtiment) à partir du bord du plancher.

Drawing