Abstract
The present invention describes a platform assembly having a centre clamp (2) formed from at least two clamp segments (25), a platform (1) formed from multiple platform segments (15) fixed together and a plurality of brackets (6) mounted into the centre clamp (2) at one end and supporting the platform (1) at the other end. The centre clamp (2) is formed from at least two clamp segments (25), which are joined together around a post or trunk (70) and once joined together, the hole in the centre of the clamp (2) has clearance around the post or trunk (70), so that the clamp (2) can be used on multiple diameters. The clamp (2) includes adjustment means (5, U, L) that can be operated to adjust the pitch and roll of the platform (1, 50) to achieve its horizontal position before the clamp (2) is secured to the trunk or post (70) to fix this position.
Claims
1. A platform assembly for securing to a substantially vertical tree trunk or a post, having a center clamp formed from at least two segments, which are joined together around the tree trunk or post, a platform, and a plurality of brackets mounted on the center clamp at one end and supporting the platform at the other end.
2. The platform assembly of claim 1, wherein the center clamp includes an adjustment means adapted to orientate and maintain a horizontal alignment of the platform.
3. The platform assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the brackets supports the platform from one of a radial edge and an underside.
4. The platform assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the brackets is joined to the center clamp by one of a clip and a push fit feature at one end.
5. The platform assembly of claim 4, wherein one clamp segment accommodates one of a single bolt and a single fixing, and an opposite clamp segment accommodates one of multiple bolts and multiple fixings.
6. The platform assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the clamp segments have a series of five bolt holes, one bolt hole centered in a middle of the clamp segment, two bolt holes equispaced above a centerline of the clamp segment, and two bolt holes equispaced below the centerline of the clamp segment.
7. The platform assembly of claim 6, wherein in each pair of clamp segments, one member of an opposing pair has a bolt located in the center bolt hole and the other member of the pair has four bolts, two upper bolts located in the bolt holes above the centerline of the clamp segment and two lower bolts located in the bolt holes below the centerline of the clamp segment.
8. The platform assembly of claim 5, wherein an adjustment is facilitated by two upper bolts lying on opposite clamp segments along an axis 1 and two lower bolts lying on the opposite clamp segments along an axis 2 perpendicular to axis 1.
9. The platform assembly of claim 5, wherein the brackets are curved radially outwards from the center clamp to the platform.
10. The platform assembly of claim 9 for a track, wherein one of the platform and brackets have one or more location features to maintain a position and a central location of the track.
11. The platform assembly of claim 10, wherein one or more tunnel accessories clipped onto one of a radial outside edge of the platform and a feature around the outer edge of the platform with one of a snap and a push fit.
12. The platform assembly of claim 11, wherein a dual tunnel accessory comprises two radially adjacent tunnels.
13. The platform assembly of claim 12, further comprising one or more internal platform extension plates, located on one or more support arms.
14. The platform assembly of claim 13, further comprising an extension platform that is larger in a diameter than the platform and sits on a top edge of the platform.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0018] FIG. 1a shows a single platform assembly according to the invention supported from a centre clamp assembly;
[0019] FIG. 1b is a side view of the single platform assembly shown in FIG. 1a supported from a centre clamp assembly mounted on a pole;
[0020] FIG. 1c shows a detailed view of a portion of the platform assembly according to the invention with a single tunnel accessory attached;
[0021] FIG. 2a shows a double platform assembly according to the invention supported from a centre clamp assembly;
[0022] FIG. 2b is a side view of the double platform assembly shown in FIG. 2a supported from a centre clamp assembly mounted on a pole;
[0023] FIG. 2c shows a detailed view of a portion of the double platform assembly according to the invention with a double tunnel accessory attached;
[0024] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention with a single platform assembly suspended from a centre clamp assembly;
[0025] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention with a double platform assembly suspended from a centre clamp assembly;
[0026] FIG. 5a shows a detailed view of the centre clamp assembly with one of the support brackets disassembled from a centre clamp segment (viewed from the bottom);
[0027] FIG. 5b shows a detailed view of the assembled centre clamp and support brackets (viewed from the bottom);
[0028] FIG. 5c shows a detailed view of the assembled centre clamp and support brackets (viewed from the top);
[0029] FIG. 5d shows a detailed view of the assembled centre clamp mounted on a pole (viewed from the top) with support brackets in place;
[0030] FIG. 5e shows a detailed, isometric view of an alternative, assembled centre clamp (viewed from the top), highlighting the axes 1 and 2, but without the support brackets or mounted on a pole or trunk;
[0031] FIG. 5f shows a detailed plan view of the alternative, assembled centre clamp shown in FIG. 5e, again, highlighting the axes 1 and 2;
[0032] FIG. 6a shows a detailed view of multiple assembled platform segments, support brackets and two support arms with the internal platform extension plate disassembled (viewed from above);
[0033] FIG. 6b shows a detailed view of multiple assembled platform segments, a support bracket and two support arms with the internal platform extension plate assembled (viewed from below);
[0034] FIG. 7a shows a detailed view of multiple assembled platform segments, a track, a support bracket and an alternative embodiment of a single tunnel attachment disassembled from the platform;
[0035] FIG. 7b shows a detailed view of multiple assembled platform segments, a track, a support bracket and an alternative embodiment of a single tunnel attachment assembled on the platform;
[0036] FIG. 8a shows an isometric view of the mounted platform assembly of the invention supported from below, incorporating the internal extension plate and a separate, disassembled track (viewed from above);
[0037] FIG. 8b shows the same isometric view shown in FIG. 8a, but with the track mounted on the platform (viewed from above);
[0038] FIG. 9a shows an isometric view of the mounted platform assembly and extension platform of the invention supported from below on a pole, incorporating the internal extension plate and two separate, disassembled tracks and a dual tunnel accessory (viewed from above);
[0039] FIG. 9b shows the same isometric view shown in FIG. 9a, but with the tracks and dual tunnel accessory mounted on the platform (viewed from above).
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1a and 1b, a first embodiment of the invention comprises a centre clamp assembly 2 having a plurality of segments, which can be joined together around a tree trunk or a pole (not shown). The clamp assembly 2 supports four brackets 6 which extend radially outwardly to support a platform 1 on which a moving vehicle (not shown) may move circumferentially around the centre clamp assembly 2. The brackets 6 are adapted to snap fit against the radial inside edge 12 of the platform 1 and a track location feature 65 is also provided at this location. As previously described, an internal platform extension plate 20 is fitted on the internal periphery of the platform 1. Additionally, the platform 1 is provided with a tunnel 30, which has the advantage of keeping any obstructions clear of the track.
[0041] FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, in which the platform 1 is augmented by an extension platform 50 having a larger diameter than the platform 1, allowing two tracks to be run side-by-side. The extension platform 50 also provides a track location feature 65. In this embodiment, the tunnel is replaced by a dual tunnel accessory 40.
[0042] The features described above are more clearly illustrated in the detailed FIGS. 1c and 2c respectively. The platform is composed from a plurality of platform segments 15 which snap-fit together and the structure of the radial inside edge 12 of the platform, tunnel 30 and support bracket 6 are illustrated more clearly by the detail of FIG. 1c. Similarly, the extension platform is composed from a plurality of extension platform segments 55 and the structure of the radial inside edge 12 of the platform 1, dual tunnel accessory 40 and support bracket 6 are illustrated more clearly by the detail of FIG. 2c.
[0043] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate further embodiments of the invention, in which the platform segments 15 and extension platform segments 55 are suspended from the central clamp assembly 2 by the brackets 6. All other features are equivalent to those described above.
[0044] FIGS. 5a-5d are provided to give more details about the construction of the centre clamp assembly (not referenced). Referring to FIG. 5a, the centre clamp assembly is composed from two clamp segments 25, which can be assembled around a tree trunk or pole (not shown) before securing together by bolts or similar means. Each bracket 6 is then clipped into the clamp assembly via clip features 7, 7. FIGS. 5b-5d clearly show the bolt holes 3, the central bolt 5 used to secure the platform (not shown) to the tree trunk or pole 70 (shown in FIG. 5d) and the upper bolts 5u and lower bolts 5L are used to adjust the pitch and roll of the centre clamp arrangement (not referenced) and thereby the pitch and roll of the platform and roll of the platform arrangement (not shown) as previously described.
[0045] FIGS. 5e and 5f show views of an alternative centre clamp assembly (not referenced), which requires no central bolt and fewer component parts. In this arrangement there are four bolts, two upper bolts 5u and two lower bolts 5L. Two bolts A & B are arranged at the top of the centre clamp segments 25 lying opposite each other on axis 1 and two bolts C & D are arranged at the bottom of the centre clamp segments 25 lying opposite each other on axis 2, which is perpendicular to the top bolts A & B on axis 1. Initially, all four bolts 5u, 5L are tightened against a central pole or trunk (not shown) and if adjustment is needed the bolts 5u, 5L are adjusted in pairs, either top bolts A & B, which rotates the clamp assembly about axis 2 or bottom bolts C & D, which rotates the clamp assembly about axis 1. When adjusting the top pair of bolts A & B, the bottom bolts C & D remain tightened against the central pole or trunk and vice versa. When adjustment is completed, the clamp assembly is level and ready for the brackets (not shown) to be clipped into the clamp assembly via clip features 7.
[0046] FIGS. 6a and 6b show details of the construction of the internal platform extension plate 20. Referring to FIG. 6a two support arms 10 are clipped to the inside radial edge 12 of a platform segment 15, before the internal platform extension plate 20 is mounted onto the support arms 10. FIG. 6b also clearly shows how the platform (not referenced) is composed from a plurality of platform segments 15 fitted together.
[0047] FIGS. 7a and 7b show an alternative embodiment of the single tunnel accessory 30 to that illustrated in FIG. 1c, particularly highlighting the different way in which the tunnel 30 is locates in a slot (not referenced) around the outer edge 14 of the platform. In this embodiment, the tunnel 30 has a very simple U-shape, which allows in-line moulding.
[0048] Finally, FIGS. 8a and 8b show a track 60 being added to the platform 1 against the track location feature 65. FIGS. 9a and 9b show multiple tracks 60 being added to a platform 1 and an extension platform 50 against track location features 65 where the clamp assembly (not referenced) is mounted on a pole 70.
