Self-leveling platform system, self-leveling supports, and method of assembling a self-leveling platform system
View Patent ↗A platform system for self-leveling a stage is provided and includes one or more module assemblies and one or more supports. Each module assembly includes one or more receiving members for engaging and removably securing the one or more supports. Each support includes an elongate portion, an extendible portion extendible from and lockingly engageable with the elongate portion, a base member removably attached to the extendible portion, and an actuator assembly secured to the elongate portion and in communication with the extendible portion. The actuator assembly is configured to rapidly extend and lockingly engage the extendible portion and the base member to provide self-leveling of each of the one or more module assemblies of the stage as the base member engages an underlying surface.
1. A platform system for leveling a stage, the platform system comprising:
a first module assembly and a second module assembly, each of the first module assembly and the second module assembly including one or more receiving members; and
one or more supports engaged and removably secured to each of the one or more receiving members, each support comprising:
an elongate portion;
an extendible portion extendible from and lockingly engageable with the elongate portion;
a base member removably attached to the extendible portion; and
an actuator assembly having a housing affixed to the elongate portion and an actuator having an actuation force receiving surface and a biasing device positioned within the housing and in communication within the actuator, wherein in response to application of a force applied to the force receiving surface in a direction toward the biasing device, the actuator disengages the extendible portion, allowing gravity to extend the extendible portion downward to engage an underlying surface thereby;
self-leveling of each of the first module assembly and the second module assembly of the stage as the base member engages the underlying surface, wherein the first module assembly and the second module assembly are connected such that the first module assembly and the second module assembly remain connected during the self-leveling.
2. The system of claim 1 , further including one or more walkout ramps operative to connect to a main platform system.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the biasing device is configured to bias the actuator into a locked position, thereby lockingly securing the extendible portion of the support and preventing movement of the extendible portion within the elongate portion of the support.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to slide along an axis that forms an angle with a longitudinal axis of the extendible portion, wherein the angle is from about 14 degrees to about 34 degrees.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a retention system configured to engage and lockingly secure the extendible portion.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the extendible portion includes a reception system operable to engage the actuator.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the reception system includes longitudinally spaced openings, recesses, protrusions, and combinations thereof on an exterior surface of the extendible portion.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the reception system is configured to cooperate with and engage the retention system of the actuator, thereby locking the extendible portion of the support in locked position.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein activating the actuator disengages the retention system from the reception system.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base member includes a first end and a second end, said first end of the base member includes a ball joint operable to pivot the base member relative to a longitudinal axis of the extendible portion.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first module assembly and the second module assembly are connected by an adaptor connector system.
12. A support for a platform system, the support comprising:
an elongate portion including a first end having a tapered portion and a second end;
an extendible portion operable to extend from and lockingly engage the second end of the elongate portion;
a base member removably attached to the extendible portion; and
an actuator assembly having a housing affixed to the elongate portion and an actuator having an actuation force receiving surface and a biasing device positioned within the housing and in communication within the actuator, wherein in response to application of a force applied to the force receiving surface in a direction toward the biasing device, the actuator disengages the extendible portion, allowing gravity to extend the extendible portion downward to engage an underlying surface thereby; and
wherein the support engages and removably secures to one or more receiving members of a first module assembly, the first module assembly being connected to a second module assembly;
wherein the actuator assembly is configured to rapidly extend and lockingly engage the extendible portion and the base member to provide self-leveling of the first module assembly and second module assembly of the platform system as the base member engages the underlying surface, wherein the first module assembly and the second module assembly are configured to remain continuously connected during the extending and the engaging of the actuator assembly.
13. The support of claim 12 , wherein system the first module assembly and the second module assembly are connected by an adaptor connector system.
14. A method of assembling a platform system comprising:
providing a first module assembly and a second module assembly, each of the first module assembly and the second module assembly including one or more receiving members;
providing one or more supports, the supports comprising:
an elongate portion including a first end and a second end;
an extendible portion operable to extend from and lockingly engage the second end of the elongate portion;
a base member removably attached to the extendible portion; and
an actuator assembly having a housing affixed to the elongate portion and an actuator having an actuation force receiving surface and a biasing device positioned within the housing and in communication within the actuator, wherein in response to application of a force applied to the force receiving surface in a direction toward the biasing device, the actuator disengages the extendible portion, allowing gravity to extend the extendible portion downward to engage an underlying surface thereby; and
securing the one or more supports to the one or more receiving members;
actuating the actuator assembly, wherein the actuating extends the extendible portion until the base member engages the underlying surface, the base member providing self-leveling of each of the first module assembly and the second module assembly secured to the one or more supports; and
locking the extendible portion to secure the one or more supports in an extended and level position, wherein the first module assembly and the second module assembly remain continuously connected during the self-leveling.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the actuator assembly includes an actuator and a biasing device in communication with the actuator, the biasing device configured to bias the actuator into a locked position, thereby lockingly securing the extendible portion of the support and preventing movement of the extendible portion within the elongate portion of the support.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the actuator includes a retention system configured to engage and lockingly secure the extendible portion.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the extendible portion includes a reception system operable to engage the actuator.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the reception system is configured to cooperate and engage the retention system of the actuator, thereby locking the extendible portion of the support in locked position.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein activating the actuator disengages the retention system from the reception system.
20. The method of claim 14 , further including retracting the extendible portion back into the elongate portion, lockingly engaging the elongate portion into a storage position.
21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first module assembly and the second module assembly are connected by an adaptor connector system.