Field of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to crane loading platforms and in particular, but not necessarily entirely, to a crane loading platform adapted for lateral extension.

Background of the Invention

[2] Crane loading platforms are commonly used today for crane access to intermediate floors of multi-storey buildings during the construction process. Such crane loading platforms comprise a lengthwise extendable platform (usually slideable along rails) adapted to allow a distal end of the crane loading platform to extend beyond the edges of the building for crane access. The inward end of the platform comprises telescopic columns for engaging the ceiling of the above floor to hold the crane loading platform in place.

[3] Common sizes for existing crane loading platforms comprise 2.1 m x 8.6 m, 3.1 m x 8.6 m and 4.2 m x 8.6 m.

[4] Furthermore, crane loading platforms are transported long distances using various modes of transport, such as ship, truck or railcar. However, the unusual size of the existing crane loading platforms increases transportation, storage costs and the like.

[5] Specifically, for trucks, trailers and the like, the usual extent of the width of the trailer of the truck is 2.1 m. As such, for crane loading platforms comprising a width of greater than 2.1 m, additional transportation restrictions are imposed. Specifically, for a crane loading platform comprising a width of 3.1 m, curfews of between 7 AM and 10 AM are imposed in city areas and building contractors are often required on site prior 7 AM. Furthermore, the transported crane platform would require a pilot vehicle. It should be noted that pilot vehicles may add an extra 20% to the cost of transportation. Such cost is not recoverable.

[6] For platforms comprising a width of 4.1 m, the imposed restrictions are greater, often times requiring two pilot vehicles.

[7] Furthermore, when not in use, the width of the crane storage platforms waste storage space. Specifically, crane loading platforms are typically laid flat when stored in holding yards or construction sites. Where space is at a premium, the difference between a 2.1 m wide platform and a 4.2 m wide platform can be significant. Extra storage requires additional cost.

[8] Furthermore, for sea transportation, sea freight requires transported goods to be enclosed and standardised dimension shipping containers. However, existing crane loading platforms cannot fit within standardised shipping containers. Certain ships comprise facilities allowing for large items to be secured directly to the deck of the ship. However, such costs are considerable as the cost is calculated when comparing the lost revenue to the containers that could have been stacked vertically. For example, freight costs were deck mounted goods can be as much as eight times that of a standard shipping container.

[9] Furthermore, deck mounted items are subject to various shipping schedules such as, for example, those that only can be unloaded at specific docs other than standardised container terminals. As such, additional road freight is required to retrieve such freight from the specialised unloading terminals. In some cases, the distance can be significant such as by being several hundred kilometres from the nearest container terminal. Furthermore, additional costs are incurred in transporting the unloaded platforms to and from the specialised freight terminals.

[10] The present invention seeks to provide a crane loading platform, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[11] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[12] According to one aspect, there is provided a crane loading platform adapted for lateral extension, the crane loading platform comprising: a substantially rectangular laterally extendable base, the base adapted for slidably engaging lateral extension members; and widthwise laterally located walls operably fastened to the lateral extension members; and surface area configurable decking means adapted to extend between the width wise laterally located walls, wherein, in use, the crane loading platform may be configurable in: a compact configuration wherein: the lateral extension members are retracted; and the surface area configurable decking means has a compact surface area such that the crane loading platform may comprise a compact width; and an extended configuration wherein: the lateral extension members are extended; and the surface area configurable decking means as an extended surface area such that the crane loading platform may comprise an extended width.

[13] The lateral extension members of slidably engageable within the base.

[14] The lateral extension members comprise a plurality of horizontally extendable beams adapted for location beneath the decking in use.

[15] The crane loading platform may further comprise an actuator adapted to cause the lateral extension members to extend. [16] The actuator may comprise a hydraulic actuator.

[17] The actuator may comprise an electric motor.

[18] The actuator may comprise a worm drive.

[19] The lateral extension members are adapted for locking once the crane loading platform may be in at least one of the compact or extended configuration.

[20] The crane loading platform may further comprise a locking mechanism.

[21] The locking mechanism may comprise locking pins.

[22] The lateral extension members are further lockable in an intermediate extended configuration.

[23] In the intermediate extended configuration, the platform may comprise a width of substantially 3.1 m.

[24] In the compact configuration, the platform may comprise a width of substantially 2.1 m.

[25] In the extended configuration, the platform may comprise a width of substantially 4.2 m.

[26] The platform may comprise a length of substantially 8.6 m.

[27] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[28] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[29] Figure 1 shows a crane loading platform adapted for lateral extension in situ in a standard a shipping container loaded to the back of a truck trailer in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[30] Figure 2 shows the crane loading platform of Figure 1 in a compact configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[31] Figure 3 shows a crane loading platform of Figure 1 in an intermediate extended configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[32] Figure 4 shows the crane loading platform of Figure 1 in an extended configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

Description of Embodiments

[33] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.

[34] Before the structures, systems and associated methods relating to the crane loading platform are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular configurations, process steps, and materials disclosed herein as such may vary somewhat. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the disclosure will be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

[35] In describing and claiming the subject matter of the disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.

[36] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[37] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including," "containing," "characterised by," and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[38] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[39] As such, with reference to the accompanying drawings, there will now be provided a crane loading platform 1 adapted for lateral extension. Specifically, as can be seen from figure 1, there is shown an exemplary scenario wherein the crane loading platform 1 is loaded within a standardised shipping container on the back of a truck. As can be seen, the crane loading platform is adapted for extending laterally to an extended configuration (as shown in dotted lines) and compacting to assume the configuration shown in solid lines. As can be appreciated, in the compact configuration, the crane loading platform 1 is able to fit within the standardised shipping container comprising an internal width of 2.1 m.

[40] Specifically, as is shown in figure 1, the shipping container 1 comprises widthwise laterally located walls 4 fastened to lateral extension members 6. As such, the extension of the left hand side lateral extension members 6 will cause the crane loading platform 1 to comprise a width of substantially 3.1 m and the subsequent extension of the right hand side extension member 6 will cause the crane loading platform 1 to comprise a width of substantially 4.2 m.

[41] Now, turning to figure 3, there is shown the platform 1 in further detail. Specifically, the platform 1 comprises the conventional componentry such as the above-mentioned rearwardly located vertically orientated telescopic columns 5 adapted for engaging the ceiling surface of the floor above so as to lock the rear of the platform 1 in place so as to counteract the cantilever forces from the extension of the platform 1 beyond the building edges.

[42] Furthermore, the platform 1 may comprise a distally located access gate 2. The platform 1 comprises widthwise located walls 4 and lengthwise extension means 9 (such as a sliding rail mechanism) adapted to allow the platform 1 to extend beyond the edges of the building.

[43] As such, as is shown in figure 2, the crane loading platform 1 is adapted for lateral extension by comprising a substantially rectangular lateral base, the base adapted for slidably engaging lateral extension members (shown in figures 3 and 4 as is discussed below) and widthwise laterally located walls 4 being fastened to the lateral extension members. Furthermore, the platform comprises surface area configurable decking means 3 adapted to extend between the widthwise laterally located walls 4.

[44] As such, in use, the platform is configurable in a compact configuration as substantially shown in figure 2 wherein the lateral extension members are contracted and the surface area configurable decking means has a compact surface area such that the crane loading platform comprises a compact width. As alluded to above, in embodiments, the contact with may be substantially 2.1 m.

[45] Furthermore, the platform 1 is configurable in an extended configuration wherein the lateral extension members are extended and the surface area configurable decking means 3 has an extended surface area such that the crane loading platform 3 comprises an extended width.

[46] Specifically, referring to figure 3, there is shown the left hand side extension members 6 of the platform 1 having been extended. As can be seen, the widthwise located walls 4 are fastened to the extension members 6, such that the extension of the extension members 6 causes the left hand side walling 4 to extend laterally.

[47] In the embodiment shown in figure 3, the platform 1 may comprise a width of substantially 3.1 m. As such, the platform 1 can be used in this configuration to suit specific applications requiring a platform 1 having a width of 3.1 m. As alluded to above, the decking 3 may be extendable so as to cover the new surface area introduced from the extension of the extension members 6.

[48] Specifically, in one embodiment, the decking 3 comprises modular panels adapted for relocation (such as by sliding across and then downwardly fitting) to cover the extended extension members 6. In embodiments, the moved decking panelling may be secured in place, such as by using pins or the like.

[49] In other embodiments, as opposed to comprising loose panelling which must be located manually, the decking 3 may comprise interleaved decking panels fastened between the lateral wall 6 and the base 7 such that as the lateral wall 4 extends away from the base 7, the interleaved decking panels deploy to provide the appropriate decking space. [50] Now, turning to figure 4, there is shown the fully extended configuration of the platform 1 wherein, as can be seen, the right hand side extension members 6 have also been extended. As such, in this configuration, the platform 1 may comprise a width of substantially 4.2 m.

[51] In a similar manner as alluded to above, decking panels 3 may similarly be provided so as to provide decking space for the right hand side introduced area on account of the right hand side extension members 6 having been extended.

[52] Now, whereas in one embodiment the platform 1 may be configurable between a compact configuration and an extended configuration, in a preferred embodiment, the platform 1 is able to take on three differing widths comprising the compact configuration wherein the width of the platform 1 is substantially 2.1 m, an intermediate extended configuration wherein the platform 1 comprises a width of substantially 3.1 m and an extended configuration wherein the platform 1 comprises a width of substantially 4.2 m. In this manner, the platform 1 may be utilised for differing applications requiring differing widths.

[53] In one embodiment, the lateral extension member 6 may be slidably engageable within the base 7 so as to be able to slide out and in of the base. In the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the lateral extension members comprise a plurality of horizontal extendable beams 6 (which may comprise a round, square cross-sectional the like). The horizontal extendable beams 6 are adapted for location beneath the decking 3 in use.

[54] In one embodiment, the extension members 6 may be extended manually. However, another embodiment, the battle 1 may comprise an actuator adapted to cause a lateral extension members to extend.

[55] In one embodiment, the actuator may comprise a hydraulic actuator. In other embodiments, the actuator may comprise an electric motor. In this latter embodiment, the actuator may further comprise a worm drive. In this manner, the lateral extension members 6 may comprise teeth adapted for engaging the worm drive mechanism of the worm drive so as to allow for the controlled extension of the extension members 6.

[56] In embodiments, the platform 1 may comprise locking means to lock the width of the platform in various configurations.

I nterpretation

Embodiments:

[57] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[58] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[59] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

[60] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

[61] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

[62] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward", "radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly", and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including

[63] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[64] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

[65] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[66] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Industrial Applicability

[67] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the building construction industries.