Portable Descent Platform

Abstract

A portable descent platform for users descending from a rope or elastic cord. The descent platform is engaged upon a planar bed of a powered motor vehicle in a pivoting engagement allowing extension of the platform from the vehicle and numerous angles. The platform may have a first portion in a translational engagement with a second portion to allow for distance adjustment of a distal edge of the platform toward and away from the vehicle and may also include elevational adjustment of the height of the platform.

Claims

1. A portable descent platform apparatus, comprising: a vehicle having a substantially planar bed; a platform having a first end opposite a distal edge; said platform in a pivoting engagement to said bed at or adjacent said first end of said platform; said platform rotatable around said pivoting engagement to an angular positioning between a first position with said platform extending from a first side edge of said bed to a second position with said platform extending from a second side edge of said bed opposite said first end; a boom having a first end engaged with one of the platform or bed, said boom extending to a distal end located adjacently overhead of said distal edge of said platform; and said distal end of said boom adapted for a connection to a first end of a cord which is connected to a user descending from said distal edge of said platform.

2. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: a motor engaged with said pivoting engagement, said motor actuable to rotate said platform between said first position and said second position.

3. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: a vertical translation drive engaged with said pivoting engagement; said vertical translation drive actuable to translate said platform in said pivoting engagement toward and away from said bed of said vehicle, thereby positioning said distal edge of said platform toward and away from said bed.

4. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: a first portion of said platform being slidably engaged with a second portion of said platform extending to said distal edge of said platform; said first portion of said platform in said pivoting engagement to said bed at or adjacent said first end of said platform; and means for powered translation of said second portion of said platform, said means of powered translation actuable to translate said distal edge of said platform, toward and away from said pivoting engagement of said platform to said bed, to thereby position said distal edge of said platform to positions closer to or further from said pivoting engagement.

5. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: a first portion of said platform being slidably engaged with a second portion of said platform extending to said distal edge of said platform; said first portion of said platform in said pivoting engagement to said bed at or adjacent said first end of said platform; and means for powered translation of said second portion of said platform, said means of powered translation actuable to translate said distal edge of said platform, toward and away from said pivoting engagement of said platform to said bed, to thereby position said distal edge of said platform to positions closer to or further from said pivoting engagement.

6. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising: a first portion of said platform being slidably engaged with a second portion of said platform extending to said distal edge of said platform; and said first portion of said platform in said pivoting engagement to said bed at or adjacent said first end of said platform; means for powered translation of said second portion of said platform, said means of powered translation actuable to translate said distal edge of said platform, toward and away from said pivoting engagement of said platform to said bed, to thereby position said distal edge of said platform to positions closer to or further from said pivoting engagement.

7. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: a vertical translation drive engaged with said pivoting engagement; said vertical translation drive actuable to translate said platform in said pivoting engagement toward and away from said bed of said vehicle, thereby positioning said distal edge of said platform toward and away from said bed.

8. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 4, additionally comprising: a vertical translation drive engaged with said pivoting engagement; said vertical translation drive actuable to translate said platform in said pivoting engagement toward and away from said bed of said vehicle, thereby positioning said distal edge of said platform toward and away from said bed.

9. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 5, additionally comprising: a vertical translation drive engaged with said pivoting engagement; said vertical translation drive actuable to translate said platform in said pivoting engagement toward and away from said bed of said vehicle, thereby positioning said distal edge of said platform toward and away from said bed.

10. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising: a motor engaged with said pivoting engagement, said motor actuable to rotate said platform between said first position and said second position.

11. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 4, additionally comprising: a motor engaged with said pivoting engagement, said motor actuable to rotate said platform between said first position and said second position.

12. The portable descent platform apparatus of claim 6, additionally comprising: a motor engaged with said pivoting engagement, said motor actuable to rotate said platform between said first position and said second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the invention. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.

In the drawings:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred mode of the deployable portable descent platform system herein showing a rearward translational deployment of the jumping platform which extends over a bridge sidewall by translation from the vehicle and showing the safety rails and boom and cable extending in the same direction from engagement with the translating platform.

[0023] FIG. 2 depicts a view of the system of FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, 6-7 or 11, in operative positioning with the descent platform extended, wherein a jumper or repelling user has descended from the platform which is extended past the bridge structure.

[0024] FIG. 3 depicts a view of the herein with the descent platform shown having a portion extended from a right side of a vehicle thereby positioning the distal end of that portion of the platform, clear of the bridge structure, wherein a jumper or repelling user has left the distal end of the platform.

[0025] FIG. 4 is an overhead illustration of the system herein showing the descent platform in a translating engagement with the vehicle and extending from the rear thereof.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows an overhead view similar to FIG. 4, showing the descent platform in the translating engagement with the vehicle and extending from the right side thereof where the platform can also extend from the left side thereof engaged in the same type of translating engagement.

[0027] FIG. 6 depicts a view of the system herein wherein the descent platform is in a rotatable engagement with the vehicle and extendable therefrom multiple angles and also shows a telescopic mount allowing for elevational positioning of the platform to adjust it above objects such as a safety rail.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows the system herein as in FIG. 6, wherein the descent platform has been rotated to an opposite side of the vehicle and elevated to a level above an object shown as a safety rail.

[0029] FIGS. 8-10 depict the system herein as in FIGS. 6,7, and 11, wherein the descent platform is rotated to extend from the vehicle in multiple directions by rotation of the axle engaging the platform to the vehicle.

[0030] FIG. 11 shows a mode of the system of FIGS. 7-10, wherein the descent platform is also in a translatable engagement with the vehicle allow it to retract and extend in addition to rotating and changing elevation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In this description, any directional prepositions if employed, such as up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, first, second, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms referring to the device or depictions as such may be oriented, are describing it such as it appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only. Such terms of direction and location are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device herein has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0032] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-11, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 one preferred mode of the descent platform or system 10 herein wherein a motor driven vehicle 12 such as a truck, provides a portable and repositionable mount, for the components required for a user to descent from the platform 14 for a rope descent or bungee jump safely. As noted, in a preferred mode of the system 10, a platform 14 or portion thereof engaged with the distal edge 14 of the platform 14, may translate from a retracted position where it does not extend from the side edges 19 or rear of the vehicle 12, to a deployed position as in FIGS. 1, 6, 7, and 11, wherein the portion of the platform 14 engaged with the distal edge 15 is positioned further or closer from the axle or pivot 36 and thereby further from or closer to a structure such as a bridge 16 or other elevated position such as a cliff edge. The distal edge 15 of the platform 14 so positioned by translating a portion of the platform 14 having the distal edge 15, allows a descending user 18, such as a person repelling from the cord 20 operatively engaged to their person, such as a rope or an elastic cord, to jump or descend safely from the distal end 15 of the platform 14.

[0033] As noted, in the preferred mode of the system 10, the distal edge 15 of the platform 14 is adapted to translate toward and away from the rear of the vehicle 12 as in FIG. 1, or a side edges 19 of the vehicle 12 as in FIG. 3 or 11, and thereby adjust to a proper position, the distal edge 15 of the platform 14 on which a user 18 is positioned. This allows translation of the portion of the platform 14 to position the distal edge 15 thereof on which a user 18 stands, spaced a distance from the bridge 16 or other elevated structure, or from the land or vegetation such as on a cliff top, to allow a safe descent by the user 18 without risk of striking the structure.

[0034] Such a side or rearward translation for positioning of the distal edge 15 of the platform 14 is also desirable as it allows positioning of the vehicle 12 out of the traffic lanes 22 if on a roadway, and parallel thereto during a positioning of the platform 14 to extend the side of the vehicle 12 as in FIG. 3 or 11, to keep traffic lanes 22 clear and thereby prevent traffic jams and the like. Additionally, the rear platform 14 deployment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, is desirable in instances such as on a cliff or bridge where more distance is required for the platform 14 extension, to avoid structural striking hazards to the user 18.

[0035] By providing one platform 14 which is deployable in both directions, or two platforms 14, where one deploys rearward and the other sideways, the system 10 provides a significant enhancement to safety and to the number of available venues for a rope descent and/or bungee jumping.

[0036] The system 10 herein in all modes, enhances the ability for rope descent and/or bungee jumping in more venues, since it does not require any physical connection to a bridge 16, for the platform 14 or for the secured end of the cord 20, since both are secured only to the vehicle 12. Government agencies conventionally will not allow connections to bridges and other elevated structures for rope descent or bungee jumping due to possible structural damage caused by such connections. Further, as shown in the drawings, the platform 14 and vehicle 14 may also include safety rails 24 which will surround the platform 14 to keep users from falling. Additionally preferably included are a boom 26, a winch 28, and a cable 30 operatively connected to the winch 28.

[0037] The cable 30 may run independent of the cord 20, or may actually be the cord 20, or the distal end of the cable 30 opposite the end connected to the winch 28, may be connected to one end of the cord 20 to allow for descent of a user 18 where the cord is a rope, or retrieval of a descended user 18 where they have descended on the cord 20, or where the cord 20 is an elastic flexible member for bungee jumping which is connected at a first end to the cable 30. In modes where the cable 30 runs independent of the cord 20, a distal end of the cable 30 would be removably engageable with a user who has descended from the platform 14, to thereby pull them back up and onto the platform 14 by activation of the winch 28 to wind the cable 30.

[0038] The boom 26 may pivot in an engagement at a first end of the boom 26 to the bed 11 of the vehicle 12 or in an engagement of the first end of the boom 26 with a first portion of the platform 14. In this fashion, the boom 26 may thereby be employed with either a rearward deployed platform 14 as in FIG. 1, or side deployed platform 14 as in FIG. 3, 6-7, or 11.

[0039] Alternatively, the first end of the boom 26 may be mounted to the translating portion of the platform 14 which would be in a pivoting engagement with the vehicle 10 such as in FIGS. 6-11 where the first portion of the platform 14 is pivotally engaged to the bed 11. A distal end 27 of the boom 26 opposite the engaged first end thereof, is positioned adjacent and overhead or above the distal edge 15 of the platform 14. Thus, the distal end 27 of the boom 26 is adapted for an engagement with a first end of the cord 20 where the opposite end of the cord 20 is operatively connected to a user 18 who descends from the distal edge 15 of the extended platform 14. During translation of the portion of the platform 14 having the distal edge 15, the boom 26 and the distal end 27 thereof, will also move along with the portion of the platform 14 having the distal edge 15.

[0040] Other anchor points 32 such as the ring shown, may also be positioned on the vehicle 12 such as at the distal end 15 of the platform 14, to avoid any need to connect to the bridge 16, and to allow use of the system 10 such as on high cliffs where there may not be appropriate anchor points available if such are required.

[0041] As noted, the platform 14 can be configured to rotate in its rotational engagement to the vehicle 12 as shown in FIGS. 4-11 and may also translate the portion of the platform 14 having the distal edge 15, toward and away from the pivot 38 with the vehicle 12, using means for powered translation of the second portion 17 of the platform with the first portion of the platform 21. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 11, the second portion of the platform 17 terminating at the distal edge 15 will translate in a sliding engagement with a first portion 21 of the platform 14 which is in a pivoting engagement formed by the axle or pivot 38 running between the bed 11 and the first portion 21 of the platform.

[0042] Such means for powered translation of the second portion 17 of the platform 14 may be a driven screw drive 34 in inoperative connection to an engageable threaded component 36, or may be a powered translating drive 35 shown in FIG. 11 such as a solenoid or pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic cylinder, which is in inoperative connection to an engageable threaded component 36. Actuation of the means for powered translation will cause force to be communicated thereto such as electric power or compressed fluid, and thereby cause translation thereof which can be reversed by reversing the electric power or flow of fluid. Such actuation controls are well known for electric and hydraulic and pneumatic power to those skilled in the art.

[0043] Actuation of such means for powered translation will thus cause the distal edge 15 of the platform 14 to translate toward or away from the axle or pivot 36 forming the pivoting engagement at or near the first end of the platform 14 to the bed 11, thereby moving the distal edge 15 on which a user 18 would be positioned, closer to or further from the side edges 19 of the bed 11 and/or closer to or further from the pivoting engagement formed by the axle or pivot 38.

[0044] Using the driven screw drive 34 engaged with the threaded component 36, the platform 14 would be in a pivoting engagement with the bed 11 on an axle or a pivot 38, and the threaded component 36 may be lifted off one screw drive 34, and engaged to another depending on the direction of translation of the platform 14 desired. Alternatively but heavier and more expensive, two platforms 14 could be connected to translate in the two directions.

[0045] Also as shown in FIGS. 4-5 where the means for powered translation is shown as the driven screw drive 34 in inoperative connection to an engageable threaded component 36, the platform 14 is shown translating from the rear and right side of the vehicle 12 by pivoting the platform 14 in its engagement to the driven screw drive 34, which is shown but would be recessed into the bed 11.

[0046] While not shown in detail, the driven screw drive 34 also will extend toward the left side of the vehicle 12 recessed into the bed 11. In this fashion when the platform 14 is retracted and supported upon the surface of the bed 11, the user may disengage and re-engage the threaded component 36 by lifting it off any of the three driven screw drives 34, and sliding over the top edge of any of the other driven screw drives 34 as shown in the detailed portion of FIG. 4. Prior to engagement or afterwards, the platform 14 may then be rotated to the direction the user wishes it to extend from the vehicle 12.

[0047] In FIG. 6 is shown a view of the system 10 herein wherein the platform 14 is in a rotatable engagement with the vehicle 12 on a powered pivot 38 which is rotatable with a motor 39 which may be electric or hydraulic or pneumatic. Activation of the motor 39 will thus rotate the pivot 38 which in this mode would be an axle. In the modes of the system 10 shown in FIGS. 6-11, this pivot 38 which is motor 39 driven, allows the vehicle 12 to be positioned properly adjacent the edge of the highway, and the platform 14 to then be rotated by activation of the motor 39 to the desired angle for projection from the vehicle 12 such as rearward as in FIG. 8, or from the right side as in FIG. 9 or from the left side as in FIG. 10, or any position in-between the right side projection and the left side projection thereby allowing for powered angled positioning of the platform 14.

[0048] Additionally shown in FIG. 6, and applicable to any mode of the system 10 herein such as in FIG. 7-11 or 1-3, is shown a vertical translation drive 42 operatively engaged with the axle or pivot 38. This vertical translation drive 42 is powered to raise and lower the end of the pivot 38 engaged with the platform 14. It is powered to translate the axle or pivot 38 along a line substantially perpendicular to the bed 11 of the vehicle 12, and thereby adjust the height of the platform 14 above the bed 11. The vertical translation drive 42 may be any motor or driven cylinder or solenoid or the like, adapted to impart sufficient force to raise and lower the platform 14 away from and toward the bed 11, such as an electric motor or electric driven cylinder or pneumatic driven cylinder or hydraulic driven cylinder, all of which are well known and need not be depicted in detail. As shown in FIG. 6, adjusting the height of the platform 14 allows for positioning it above obstacles during translation of the distal end 15 away from the structure.

[0049] As noted, FIG. 7 shows the system 10 herein as in FIG. 6, and depicts the platform 14 having been rotated by the motor 39 engaged with the axle or pivot 38 which is connected to the platform 14, to an opposite side of the vehicle 12 from that of FIG. 6. Further, the vertical translation drive 42 has been powered to raise the platform 14 to a desired level whereby the powered translating drive 35 can translate the distal end 15 of the platform 14 a distance from the bridge structure and for example the guard rail.

[0050] As already noted above, FIGS. 8-10 are graphic depictions of the positions to which the platform 14 can be remotely rotated by activation of the motor 39 operatively connected to the axle or pivot 38. As also noted, the platform 14 can be located to any angle relative to bed 11 and axis of the vehicle 12 in-between the positions shown for the platform 14 in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0051] Finally, as discussed above, FIG. 11 shows the system 10 depicted in FIGS. 6-10, wherein the platform 14 is also in a translatable engagement with the vehicle 12 and the powered extension drive 35 is operatively engaged to translate the platform 14 and distal end 15. As shown, the powered extension drive 35 such as a solenoid, or hydraulic powered cylinder, or pneumatic powered cylinder, will translate the platform 14 between a retracted position where the distal end 15 would be proximate to a side edge 19 of the bed 11, to the shown extended position where the distal end 15 of the platform 14 is spaced from the bridge 16 or railing, or other structures and provides an unimpeded path for the user 18 to descend from the distal end 15 of the platform 14. Since it would be powered adjustments to the position of the distal end 15 of the platform 14 are easily obtained during initial positioning of the system 10 for use.

[0052] Further, the mode shown in FIG. 11 also includes the axle of pivot 38 being operatively engaged with the vertical translation drive 42 as well as the motor 39 to thereby allow adjustment of the angular extension of the platform 14 from the bed 11 and vehicle 12 as well as the elevation of the platform 14 above the bed 11 and surrounding roadway and any impeding objects to translation of the distal end 15 from the bed 11. This mode of the system 10 with vertical translation adjustment, horizontal translation adjustment, and rotational adjustment of the position of the platform 14 would be the most functional and preferred.

[0053] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the portable descent system herein have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that upon reading this disclosure and becoming aware of the disclosed novel and useful device and system herein disclosed, that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may occur to and be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions, as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.