Stairway Work Platform With Adjustable Legs and Protective Pads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work platforms and ladders are unsafe and damaging to stairways when used on staircases due to uneven surfaces and lack of protection for the horizontal and vertical areas, leading to potential slippage and damage.
Innovation Solution
A stairway work platform with adjustable leg assemblies and soft pads that attach to the ends and legs, allowing level positioning on staircases while protecting the stairway surfaces from damage and providing additional friction to prevent slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standard work platforms or ladders are used on stairways, then access to areas above the stairway is achieved, but the platform becomes unstable and unsafe due to uneven stair surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The leg assemblies are made adjustable in length, allowing each leg to be independently configured to match the varying heights of different stair steps. This dynamic adaptability enables the platform to maintain stability on uneven stair surfaces by adjusting the leg lengths to compensate for the irregular geometry of the stairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform incorporates adjustable leg assemblies where the leg length parameter can be changed to match different stair configurations. By modifying the leg length parameter, the platform adapts to the specific geometry of the stairway, ensuring stable support on uneven surfaces.
2Ease of operation
If ladders or work platforms are used on stairways, then access is provided, but the horizontal run area and vertical rise area of the stairway are damaged by contact with rails or leg assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
Protective pads are introduced as intermediary elements between the platform's leg assemblies and the stairway surfaces. These pads act as a mediating layer that prevents direct contact and potential damage to the horizontal run area and vertical rise area of the stairs, while still allowing the platform to be supported on the stairway.
Solution Approach 2:
Protective pads are attached to the leg assemblies before use, providing pre-established cushioning and protection for the stairway surfaces. This beforehand cushioning prevents damage to the stairway's horizontal and vertical surfaces during platform operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protective materials like tarps or cloth are placed on the stairway, then the stairway is protected from damage, but slippage and movement of the platform occur
Solution Approach 1:
The protective pads are made from materials with specific friction characteristics that provide both protection and grip. By selecting materials with appropriate friction parameters, the pads simultaneously protect the stairway surfaces from damage and prevent slippage or movement of the platform during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective pads are constructed from composite materials that combine the protective qualities needed to prevent scratching and marring with friction-enhancing properties to prevent slippage. This composite approach allows the pads to fulfill multiple functions simultaneously.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If rubber mats are cut to size to fit the stairway, then protection is provided, but the mats are discarded after the job is completed
Solution Approach 1:
The protective pads are permanently attached to the platform's leg assemblies, merging the protective function with the platform structure itself. This integration eliminates the need for separate protective materials that would be discarded, as the protection becomes a permanent part of the platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform becomes self-protecting through the integrated pads, eliminating the need for external protective materials. The platform's own structure includes the protection mechanism, making it self-sufficient and eliminating waste from discarded protective materials.
Data Source
AI summary
A stairway work platform for a user includes a plank, a first leg assembly attached in proximity to a first end of the plank. The work platform includes an end pad directly attached to the first end of the plank which prevents damage to a vertical rise area of the stairway. The work platform includes a first bottom pad directly attached to a front of a first leg of the first leg assembly which prevents damage to a horizontal run area of the stairway while supporting a weight of the user. The work platform includes a second bottom pad directly attached to a front of a second leg of the first leg assembly which prevents damage to the horizontal run area of the stairway while supporting the weight of the user. The work platform includes a hinge bracket attached to the plank in proximity to the first end of the plank and to the first leg of the first leg assembly. In a stairway mode, the first leg assembly is in the closed position and is adapted to be disposed on a stair of the stairway and a second leg assembly is extended to a position which makes the plank level with respect to ground. A method for using a work platform. An end pad. A side-bottom pad.