Folding foothold for cargo beds

Abstract

To provide a folding foothold for cargo beds making it possible to upgrade the safety and workability of cargo handling which is performed in a style of standing on a gate, and guarantee the workability of cargo handling at an unused time.SOLUTION: A folding foothold includes a flat plate body shaped like a belt whose width is substantially identical to that of a gate of a cargo bed of a truck, and a hinge connecting the flat plate body to an upper end of an outer edge of the gate so that the flat plate body can be turned between a deployed condition where one surface of the flat plate body is substantially flush with an upper surface of the gate and a folded condition where the one surface of the flat plate body is superposed on the upper surface of the gate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding scaffold for a truck bed that is attached to the tailgate of the truck bed to expand the foothold on the upper surface of the tailgate. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in vehicles such as light trucks, where the loading platform is surrounded by side fences, workers may have to stand on the side fences to carry out loading and unloading work. Since side fences are narrow and unreliable as footholds, this type of work entails the risk of slipping off.

[0003] To address this issue, Patent Document 1 describes a step that is wider than the top surface of the gate and is placed on the top surface of the gate to widen the footing and make loading and unloading work on the gate safer. This step is fixed in an upright position on the top surface of the gate when not in use. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2005-8130 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the step in Patent Document 1 is positioned so that it protrudes from the top surface of the gate when not in use, and the protruding step can get in the way, for example, when performing loading and unloading work without standing on the gate.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its main objective is to provide a folding scaffold for loading platforms that improves safety and workability when in use, i.e., when standing on the tailgate to perform loading and unloading work, while also ensuring workability for loading and unloading work when not in use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] [1] A flat plate body having a strip shape with approximately the same width as the side panel of the truck bed; A folding scaffold for a cargo bed, characterized in that it is provided with a hinge that rotatably connects the flat plate to the upper end of the outer edge of the gate between an unfolded state in which one surface of the flat plate is approximately flush with the upper surface of the gate and a folded state in which one surface of the flat plate overlaps the upper surface of the gate.

[0008] With this configuration, the width of the upper surface of the gate can be expanded when it is deployed, making it easier to carry out loading and unloading work while standing on the gate. When not in use, it can be folded up, and in this folded state, the flat plate is placed on top of the upper surface of the gate, so that the height of the gate is increased only by the thickness of the flat plate, making it compact and ensuring ease of loading and unloading work when not in use. Since the width of the flat plate body is approximately the same as the width of the tailgate, the flat plate body in the folded state can be stored without protruding from above the tailgate, thereby ensuring the loading capacity of the bed. Since the hinge is attached to the upper end of the outer edge of the tailgate, the trajectory of the flat plate when it rotates does not pass through the luggage storage space inside the loading platform. This allows the flat plate to be unfolded or folded even when the loading platform is fully loaded.

[0009] [2] The folding scaffold for a cargo bed described in [1], wherein the flat plate body extends over the entire length of the tailgate. This makes it possible to work on the gate over its entire length.

[0010] [3] A folding scaffold for cargo beds as described in [1], wherein anti-slip surfaces are provided on one side of the flat plate body and on the upper surface of the tailgate. This makes it less likely that one's feet will slip, and improves safety when standing on the tailgate to carry out loading and unloading work in the deployed state. In the folded state, the anti-slip material can be sandwiched and hidden between the flat plate body and the flap, so that unnecessary wear of the anti-slip material when not in use can be suppressed, for example.

[0011] [4] A folding scaffold for cargo beds described in [3], wherein in the unfolded state, the height of the upper surface of the hinge attached to one surface of the flat plate body or the upper surface of the tailgate is configured to be lower than the height of the upper surface of the anti-slip pad provided on the same surface. In this case, by covering the parts of one side of the flat plate and the top surface of the gate where the hinge is not installed with a non-slip material, it is possible to prevent the hinge from protruding when the scaffold is deployed. This can increase the safety of loading and unloading work performed while standing on the gate.

[0012] [5] The folding scaffold for cargo beds described in [1] further comprises a locking mechanism for fixing the flat plate body in the folded state. This makes it possible to prevent the flat plate body from accidentally deploying due to vibrations while the truck is traveling, for example. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention configured in this manner, a folding scaffold for cargo beds can be provided that improves the safety and workability of loading and unloading work performed while standing on the tailgate, while also ensuring the workability of loading and unloading work when not in use. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a folding platform for a cargo bed according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view of a folding platform for a cargo bed according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an overall plan view of the folding scaffold for a cargo bed according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the folding scaffold for a cargo bed according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the folding platform for a cargo bed according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a folding scaffold for a cargo bed according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] [First embodiment] 1. Overview The folding scaffold for a cargo bed of this embodiment is a foldable scaffold that can be attached to a tailgate provided on the cargo bed of a truck.

[0017] The truck M here is a flat-body type (e.g., a light truck) with no ceiling on the loading platform 1, and is equipped with flat tailgates 12, 13 surrounding the loading platform 1, as shown in Fig. 1. The space above the loading platform 1 surrounded by the tailgates 12, 13 is the luggage storage space. Two tailgates (side tailgates 12) are provided on the sides of the loading platform 1, and one (rear tailgate 13) is provided at the rear of the loading platform 1, and function as walls to prevent luggage B from falling from the loading platform 1. When viewed from the front, rear, top, bottom, left and right directions of the truck M, the front-to-rear dimension of the side tailgate 12 is referred to as the length dimension, the up-down dimension as the height dimension, and the left-to-right dimension as the width dimension.

[0018] 1 to 3, the folding scaffold 2 for a cargo bed includes a flat plate body 21 attached to the side gate 12 of the cargo bed 1 of the truck M, and a hinge 22 connecting the flat plate body 21 to the side gate 12. The hinge 22 connects the flat plate body 21, which serves as the scaffold, so that it can rotate between an unfolded state and a folded state. In Figs. 1 to 3, the flat plate body 21 on the left side facing the front of the truck M is in the unfolded state, and the flat plate body 21 on the right side is in the folded state.

[0019] 2. Configuration of each part 2-1. Flat plate 21 As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the flat plate 21 has a strip shape that extends linearly, and is made of metal here. In this embodiment, the dimension in the long axis direction of the flat plate body 21 is approximately the same as the length dimension of the side gate 12, and the dimension in the short axis direction (width dimension) is approximately the same as the width dimension of the side gate 12. The thickness dimension (thickness in the vertical direction) of this flat plate body 21 is configured to be at least shorter than the width dimension of the flat plate body 21.

[0020] The flat plate bodies 21 of the present embodiment are attached to each of the two side gates 12 that sandwich the bed 1 of the truck M, one each.

[0021] 2-2. Hinge 22 The hinge 22 rotatably connects one long side of the flat plate body 21 to the upper end of the outer edge 122 of the side gate.

[0022] 4 and 5, the hinge 22 is a metal fitting including two blades 221 and a pin (shaft) 222. In this embodiment, the flat plate body 21 and the side gate 12 are connected together using a plurality of hinges 22.

[0023] In this embodiment, the two blades 221 of the hinge 22 are fixed with screws (not shown) into screw holes (not shown) provided on one surface (hereinafter also referred to as the back surface 211) of the flat plate body and the upper surface 121 of the side gate, thereby connecting the flat plate body 21 and the side gate 12. The hinge 22 may be fixed by welding or the like.

[0024] 2-3. Anti-slip R The back surface 211 of the flat plate and the top surface 121 of the side gate are provided with anti-slip material R. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the anti-slip material R in this embodiment is in the form of a sheet having a thickness similar to that of the wing 221 of the hinge, and is attached so as to cover the back surface 211 of the flat plate and the top surface 121 of the side gate to which the hinge 22 is not attached. Note that the anti-slip material R may be thicker than the hinge 22.

[0025] It is recommended that this anti-slip R be made of a material that has a high coefficient of friction with the material of the sole of the shoe (rubber, plastic, and other resins).

[0026] 2-4.Latching mechanism 23 The folding scaffold 2 for cargo beds further includes a locking mechanism 23 for fixing the flat plate body 21 in the folded state. The locking mechanism includes a locked portion 231 and a hook 232, and in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the hook 232 attached to the inner edge of the side gate 12 is hooked onto the locked portion 231 attached to the other long side of the flat plate body 21, thereby fixing the flat plate body 21. The attached positions of the locked portion 231 and the hook 232 may be reversed. The locking mechanism 23 is preferably a spring-loaded one.

[0027] In this embodiment, two locking mechanisms 23 are provided on each of the left and right sides of the loading platform 1 in order to fix the two flat plate members 21 provided on the left and right sides of the loading platform 1, respectively.

[0028] 3. Description of the unfolded and folded states As shown in Figures 4(a) and 5(a), the state in which the flat plate body 21 is open to the outside of the cargo bed 1 is referred to as the unfolded state, and as shown in Figures 4(b) and 5(b), the state in which the flat plate body 21 is folded onto the side gate 12 is referred to as the folded state.

[0029] 3-1. About the deployment state In the unfolded state, as shown in FIG. 5, the side surface 212 (rotation shaft side) of the flat plate and the outer edge 122 of the side gate are configured to be in contact with each other, and together with the hinge 22, support the load acting on the flat plate 21 from above.

[0030] In the unfolded state, the underside 211 of the flat plate body and the upper surface 121 of the side gate are approximately flush with each other, and a flat foot space is formed by the non-slip surface R and the hinge blades 221 provided on these surfaces. This foot space is approximately parallel to the floor surface 11 of the bed 1 of the truck M, and its width is approximately twice that of the side gate 12.

[0031] In the unfolded state, the height of the upper surface of the hinge blade 221 attached to the back surface 211 of the flat plate body and the upper surface 121 of the side gate is configured to be lower than the height of the upper surface of the anti-slip pad R attached to the same surface.

[0032] In the unfolded state, the tube of the wing 221 into which the hinge pin 222 is inserted is configured so as not to protrude upward from the footrest.

[0033] In addition, in the unfolded state, the locked portion 231 attached to the flat plate body 21 is attached at a position that does not protrude upward from the foot area.

[0034] 3-2. About the folded state In the folded state, the back surface 211 of the flat plate overlaps with the upper surface 121 of the side gate, and the non-slip surfaces R or hinge blades 221 provided on these surfaces are in contact with each other.

[0035] In the folded state, it is configured so as not to protrude outside the loading platform 1 and not to enter the luggage storage space of the loading platform 1. In the folded state, the height of the side flap 12 is increased by the thickness of the flat plate body 21.

[0036] 4. Effects of the First Embodiment The folding scaffolding 2 for cargo beds in this embodiment can double the area of ​​the scaffolding on the side gate 12 when unfolded, thereby improving the safety and ease of loading and unloading work performed while standing on the side gate 12. In addition, in the folded state, the height of the side gate 12 is compact, being increased only by the thickness of the flat plate body 21. This ensures ease of loading and unloading work without standing on the side gate 12.

[0037] Since the flat plate body 21 can be folded onto the side gate 12, it is possible to ensure a higher loading capacity than a configuration in which the flat plate body 21 is fixed to the luggage storage space of the loading platform 1 when the scaffolding is not in use. In addition, since the flat plate body 21 fits onto the side gate 12 in the folded state, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the width of the vehicle increases or the luggage storage space becomes narrow.

[0038] Since the hinge 22 is attached to the outer edge of the side gate 12, the trajectory of the flat plate body 21 when rotating does not pass through the space inside the loading platform 1. This allows the flat plate body 21 to be unfolded or folded even if the luggage storage space of the loading platform 1 is fully loaded, for example.

[0039] Since the flat plate body 21 extends over the entire length of the side gate 12, loading and unloading work can be performed by standing anywhere on the front or rear side of the side gate 12. Furthermore, if the flat plate body 21 is long, it is possible to connect the flat plate body 21 and the side gate 12 using a large number of hinges 22, thereby increasing the strength of the footing.

[0040] The provision of an anti-slip R makes the footing less slippery, thereby increasing safety when standing on the side gate 12 to carry out loading and unloading work.

[0041] Since a spring-loaded locking mechanism 23 is provided, it is possible to prevent the flat plate body 21 from being accidentally deployed due to vibrations while the truck is traveling, for example.

[0042] In addition, an anti-slip R sheet having a thickness similar to that of the hinge 22 is used to fill in the step created by attaching the hinge 22 to the underside 211 of the flat plate body and the upper surface 121 of the side gate, thereby reducing unevenness of the foot space when the chair is unfolded. This reduces the risk of tripping over unevenness in the footing when standing on the side gate 12 to carry out loading and unloading work.

[0043] In the folded state, the anti-slip pads R provided on the back surface 211 of the flat plate body and the upper surface 121 of the side panel cover each other, so that the anti-slip pads R are not exposed and unnecessary wear of the anti-slip pads R when not in use can be suppressed.

[0044] [Other embodiments] In the above embodiment, the dimension in the major axis direction of the flat plate body is approximately the same as the length dimension of the side gate, but it may be shorter than the length dimension of the side gate.

[0045] In the above embodiment, one flat plate body is attached to each side gate, but multiple flat plate bodies may be attached to one side gate. In this case, only the necessary flat plate bodies can be deployed.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the hinge blades are directly fixed to the back surface of the flat plate body and the upper surface of the side gate, but the hinge may be fixed by being embedded without play in a recess provided on the back surface of the flat plate body or the upper surface of the side gate. In this case, it is possible to prevent a step from being formed on the mounting surface of the hinge.

[0047] Although the hinges in the above embodiment are fixed to the back surface of the flat plate body and the upper surface of the side gate, the hinges may be fixed to the side surface of the flat plate body or the outer wall of the side gate. It is sufficient that the above-mentioned unfolded state and folded state can be realized.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the anti-slip members are provided on the back surface of the flat plate and the upper surface of the side gate, but the anti-slip members may be provided on either the flat plate or the side gate.

[0049] The anti-slip properties may be achieved by making the material of the flat plate non-slip or by roughening the back surface of the flat plate to make it non-slip.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the folding platform for the cargo bed is attached to the side tailgate, but it may be attached to the rear tailgate.

[0051] The folding scaffold for a cargo bed according to the present invention may be attached to the tailgate of not only a flatbed truck but also a wing-body truck. It may also be attached to the tailgate of a cargo bed of a non-self-propelled vehicle such as a trailer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] M···Track B. Baggage 1. Cargo bed 12 Side gate 13 Rear tailgate 2. Folding platform for cargo beds 21 ···Slab body 22 Hinge 23...Locking mechanism R ···Anti-slip

Claims

1. A flat plate body having a strip shape with approximately the same width as the side panel of the truck bed; A folding scaffold for a cargo bed, characterized in that it is provided with a hinge that rotatably connects the flat plate to the upper end of the outer edge of the gate between an unfolded state in which one surface of the flat plate is approximately flush with the upper surface of the gate and a folded state in which one surface of the flat plate overlaps the upper surface of the gate.

2. 2. The folding scaffold for a cargo bed according to claim 1, wherein the flat plate body extends over the entire length of the gate.

3. 2. The folding platform for a cargo bed according to claim 1, wherein an anti-slip surface is provided on one surface of the flat plate body and on an upper surface of the gate.

4. A folding scaffold for a cargo bed as described in claim 3, wherein in the unfolded state, the height of the upper surface of the hinge attached to one surface of the flat plate body or the upper surface of the tailgate is configured to be lower than the height of the upper surface of the anti-slip plate provided on the same surface.

5. The folding scaffold for a cargo bed according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism for fixing the flat plate body in the folded state.

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