US4004652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable bridge structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-04-12
•
Granted: 1977-01-25
•
Expires: 1996-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A portable bridge structure includes a pair of releasably connectable stair and platform assemblies which form opposite ends of the bridge structure. Each assembly includes several components which are movable between folded and erected positions. When all the components are in their folded positions, each assembly forms a flat, compact bundle to facilitate transport and storage of the bridge structure. The components of each assembly include pivotally interconnected stair and platform sections and bracing means for retaining the sections in erected positions at selected angles of relative inclination. In preferred practice, each assembly also includes foldable stabilizer and railing structures carried respectively on the stair and platform sections.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel Laboy-Alvarado
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:17
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06C; E06C1/00; E06C1/02; E06C1/14; E06C1/16; E06C1/20; E01; E01D; E01D15/00; E01D15/12; E01D15/124; E04; E04G; E04G1/00; E04G1/34; E06C1/38; E06C1/39
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A portable bridge structure, comprising: a. a pair of stair and platform assemblies each including a stair section and a platform section, and assembly interconnection means for releasably connecting the platform sections to form a bridge with the stair sections at opposite ends of the bridge; b. each of the assemblies including section interconnection means pivotally connecting its stair and platform sections for movement between assembly folded and assembly erected positions; c. each of the assemblies additionally including bracing means for releasably maintaining its stair and platform sections in one of a plurality of predetermined assembly erected positions, the bracing means being pivotally connected to one of the sections for movement between brace folded and brace erected positions and being selectively connectable when in brace erected positions with one of a plurality of formations carried on the other sections; d. each of the stair sections including a plurality of tread members and support means pivotally connected to the tread members for maintaining load support surfaces defined on the tread members in substantially parallel relationship as the tread members pivot relative to the support means between stair folded and stair erected positions; e. the sections, bracing means, tread members and support means of each assembly being operative when in the assembly folded, brace folded and stair folded positions, respectively, to lie closely alongside each other to form a compact, substantially flat bundle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A portable bridge structure, comprising: a. a pair of stair and platform assemblies each including a stair section and a platform section, and assembly interconnection means for releasably connecting the platform sections to form a bridge with the stair sections at opposite ends of the bridge; b. each of the assemblies including section interconnection means pivotally connecting its stair and platform sections for movement between assembly folded and assembly erected positions; c. each of the assemblies additionally including bracing means for releasably maintaining its stair and platform sections in one of a plurality of predetermined assembly erected positions, the bracing means being pivotally connected to one of the sections for movement between brace folded and brace erected positions and being selectively connectable when in brace erected positions with one of a plurality of formations carried on the other sections; d. each of the stair sections including a plurality of tread members and support means pivotally connected to the tread members for maintaining load support surfaces defined on the tread members in substantially parallel relationship as the tread members pivot relative to the support means between stair folded and stair erected positions; e. the sections, bracing means, tread members and support means of each assembly being operative when in the assembly folded, brace folded and stair folded positions, respectively, to lie closely alongside each other to form a compact, substantially flat bundle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The bridge structure of claim 1 wherein the support means of each stair section includes forward and rearward pairs of elongated support members pivotally connected to their tread members and cooperating therewith to define parallelogram linkages which maintain the load support surfaces in parallel relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bridge structure of claim 2 wherein the section interconnecting means pivotally connects with the rearward pairs of support members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bridge structure of claim 2 additionally including stabilization means connected to the rearward pairs of support members for laterally stabilizing the stair sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure of claim 1 additionally including siderail means pivotally connected to the platform sections for movement between siderail folded and siderail erected positions, the siderail means extending closely alongside their associated platform sections when in the siderail folded positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The structure of claim 1 additionally including stabilization means pivotally connected to the stair sections for movement between stabilizer folded and stabilizer erected positions, the stabilization means extending closely alongside their associated stair sections when in the stabilizer folded positions and being operable to engage the surface on which the structure is supported at locations on opposite sides of their associated stair sections when in the stabilizer extended positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein: a. a pair of parallel passages are formed in each of the platform sections; b. the passage in one of the platform sections is alignable with the passages in the other of the platform sections when the platform sections are arranged end to end for interconnection; and c. the assembly interconnection means includes a pair of connection members positionable in the passages of one of the platform sections and extending into the aligned passages of the other platform section to bridge the juncture between the platform sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 1 additionally including a platform extension section which is insertable between and connectable to the platform sections to extend the length of the bridge structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 5 additionally including siderail extension means pivotally connected to the platform extension section for movement between folded and extended positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
The bridge structure of claim 1 additionally including: a. siderail means pivotally connected to the platform sections for movement between siderail folded and siderail erected positions, the siderail means extending closely alongside their associated platform sections when in the siderail folded positions; b. stabilization means pivotally connected to the stair sections for movement between stabilizer folded and stabilizer erected positions, the stabilization means extending closely alongside their associated stair sections when in the stabilizer folded positions and being operable to engage the surface on which the structure is supported at locations on opposite sides of their associated stair sections when in the stabilizer extended positions; and, c. a platform extension section which is insertable between and connectable to the platform sections to extend the length of the bridge structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-25 | 1980-07-26 | 1981-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-25 | 1984-07-26 | 1985-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-25 | 1988-07-26 | 1989-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |