Work Platform Having Attached Movable Work Step
A work platform for use with an aerial work platform to accomplish a work activity at an elevated location. The work platform has a deck with a floor, an upwardly extending guardrail assembly around the floor, and a work step pivotally attached to the guardrail assembly to move between a vertical storage position and a horizontal work position to allow a worker to reach higher than possible from the floor. A step support mechanism supports the work step in its work position. The step support mechanism can be support legs that contact the floor or cables which are connected to the guardrail assembly. The guardrail assembly has a movable upper assembly that is moved upward for safe use of the work step. The aerial work platform has a self-propelled chassis and a lift mechanism that moves and elevates the work platform using operator controls on the work platform.
1 . A work platform for use with an aerial work platform, said work platform comprising:
a deck having a floor and a guardrail assembly, said guardrail assembly extending upward from said floor and including an upper guardrail section having three sides that are movable between a lowered position and a raised position;
a work step being movable between a storage position in which said work step is nested within said guardrail assembly and a work position in which said work step is horizontally oriented above said floor, wherein said work step and said upper section are cooperatively linked such that said work step cannot be moved from said storage position to said work position unless said upper section has previously been moved from said lowered position to said raised position to allow safe use of said work step; and
a step support mechanism for supporting said work step in said work position, wherein said wok step is mechanically prevented from pivoting to said work position when said upper guardrail section is in said lowered position.
2 . The work platform of claim 1 , wherein said work step includes one or more pivoting devices for moving said work step from said storage position to said work position.
3 . The work platform of claim 1 , wherein said step support mechanism comprises one or more flexible cables interconnecting said guardrail assembly and said work step.
4 . (canceled)
5 . (canceled)
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8 . The work platform of claim 1 , wherein said deck is an extension deck that is movably supported by a main deck so as to move between a retracted position substantially enclosed by said main deck and an extended position extending outward from said main deck.
9 . (canceled)
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11 . A work platform for use with an aerial work platform, said work platform comprising:
a main deck;
an extension deck movably supported by said main deck and operable to move between a retracted position substantially enclosed by said main deck and an extended position extending outward from said main deck;
a guardrail assembly extending upward from a floor of said extension deck, said guardrails having an upper guardrail section having three sides movable between a lowered position and a raised position; and
a work step movable between a storage position and a work position in which said work step is horizontally oriented above said floor, wherein said work step and said upper guardrail section are cooperatively linked such that said work step cannot be moved from said storage position to said work position unless said . upper section has previously been moved from said lowered position to said raised position.
12 . The work platform of claim 11 , further comprising a step support mechanism comprising one or more cables interconnecting guardrail assembly and said work step, each of said one or more cables being configured to flex for storage at said extension deck when said work step is moved from said work position to said storage position.
13 . (canceled)
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16 . An aerial work platform comprising:
an operator control station on said work platform that is configured for moving the aerial work platform and for elevating and lowering said aerial work platform;
a deck having a floor and a guardrail assembly, said guardrail assembly extending upward from said, said guardrail assembly having an upper guardrail section having three sides movable between a lowered position and a raised position; and
a work step associated with said guardrail assembly, said work step being movable between a storage position wherein said work step generally does not interfere with movement on said floor and a work position in which said work step is horizontally oriented above said floor, wherein said work step cannot be moved from said storage position to said work position unless said upper section has previously been moved from said lowered position to said raised position. ;
one or more pivoting devices connecting said work step to a deck attachment member associated with said guardrail assembly, said one or more pivoting device selected to pivot said work step between said storage position and said work position relative to said guardrail assembly; and
17 . The aerial work platform of claim 16 , further comprising a step support mechanism comprising one or more cables interconnecting guardrail assembly and said work step, each of said one or more cables being configured to flex for storage at said extension deck when said work step is moved from said work position to said storage position.
18 . (canceled)
19 . The aerial work platform of claim 16 , wherein said deck is an extension deck movably supported by a main deck so as to move between a retracted position substantially enclosed by said main deck and an extended position extending outward from said main deck.
20 . (canceled)
21 . The work platform of claim 1 , further comprising one or more pivoting devices connecting said work step to a deck attachment member associated with said guardrail assembly, said one or more pivoting device selected to pivot said work step between said storage position and said work position relative to said guardrail assembly.
22 . The work platform of claim 1 , wherein said work step is pivotally connected to said deck attachment member at two pivot points, each pivot point being located on opposite sides of said work step.
23 . The work platform of claim 1 , wherein said step support mechanism is configured to support said work step in said work position by engaging a slot formed in said guardrail assembly.
24 . The aerial work platform of claim 16 , wherein said guardrail assembly is further comprised of welded vertical supports, each support spaced at least 10 inches apart along the perimeter of said floor.