Portable Elevated Platform with Locking Legs

Abstract

A joint between a leg and an elevated platform includes a tapered receptacle with straight widening walls coupled to one of either the leg or the platform. A mating insert is coupled to the other of the leg or the platform and is selectively insertable into the tapered receptacle. The mating insert has straight narrowing walls that are engageable with the widening walls of the tapered receptacle. The weight of the platform pushes the insert into the receptacle such that the narrowing walls of the insert engage the widening walls of the tapered receptacle.

1 . A joint between a leg and an elevated platform, comprising:
 a) a tapered receptacle having straight widening walls couplable to one of either the leg or the platform;   b) a mating insert couplable to the other of the leg or the platform and selectively insertable into the tapered receptacle, the mating insert having straight narrowing walls engageable with the widening walls of the tapered receptacle; and   c) weight of the platform pushing the insert into the receptacle such that the narrowing walls of the insert engage the widening walls of the tapered receptacle.   
   
   
       2 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the leg is pivotally coupled to the platform and is pivotal between a stowed position with the insert removed from the tapered receptacle configured to position the leg adjacent the platform, and a support position with the insert disposed in the tapered receptacle configured to orient the leg substantially perpendicular to the platform. 
   
   
       3 . A joint in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the leg further comprises:
 a) an outer shell;   b) a pivot rod slidably disposed in the outer shell with a pivot end extending away from the shell and pivotally coupled to the tapered receptacle, the pivot rod being slidable within the outer shell between an extended position and a retracted position; and   c) a biasing device, coupled to the pivot rod to bias the pivot rod to retracted position.   
   
   
       4 . A joint in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the pivot rod further includes a stop coupled to an end of the pivot rod opposite the pivot end, the stop being sized and shaped to retain the pivot rod in the outer shell when the pivot rod is in the extended position. 
   
   
       5 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the tapered receptacle further includes a keyway formed in a sidewall of the tapered receptacle, the keyway being sized and shaped to receive the insert when the leg is positioned in a stowed position. 
   
   
       6 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the widening walls of the tapered receptacle are disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tapered receptacle and the narrowing walls of the insert are disposed at a corresponding angle to the widening walls. 
   
   
       7 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the widening walls of the tapered receptacle are disposed at an angle of approximately 15 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the receptacle and the narrowing walls of the insert are disposed at a corresponding angle of approximately 15 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the narrowing walls and widening walls center the insert within the receptacle and restrict movement of the insert with respect to the receptacle when a load is placed on the platform. 
   
   
       9 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a platform with at least one leg, and wherein the receptacle is disposed on the leg and the insert is disposed on the platform. 
   
   
       10 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a platform with at least one leg, and wherein the receptacle is disposed on the platform and the insert is disposed on the leg. 
   
   
       11 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a flange coupled to a narrower end of the insert; and   b) a slot formed in a narrower end of the receptacle, the slot being sized and shaped to receive the flange.   
   
   
       13 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the widening walls of the tapered receptacle and the narrowing walls of the insert are substantially flat. 
   
   
       14 . A joint in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the widening walls of the tapered receptacle and the narrowing walls of the insert have a substantially trapezoidal shape. 
   
   
       15 . A joint between a leg and an elevated platform, comprising:
 a) a platform with at least one leg;   b) a tapered receptacle coupled to the platform and having straight widening walls extending from a terminal end adjacent an underside of the platform to a relatively wider opening;   c) a mating insert disposed on the leg and selectively insertable into the tapered receptacle, the mating insert having straight narrowing walls extending from an end of the leg to a relatively narrower mating terminal end, such that the narrowing walls of the insert engage the widening walls of the tapered receptacle.   
   
   
       16 . A joint in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the leg is pivotally coupled to the platform and is pivotal between a stowed position with the leg adjacent the platform and a support position with the insert disposed in the tapered receptacle and the leg oriented substantially perpendicular to the platform. 
   
   
       17 . A joint in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the leg further comprises:
 a) an outer shell;   b) a pivot rod slidably disposed in the outer shell with a pivot end extending away from the shell and pivotally coupled to the tapered receptacle, the pivot rod being slidable within the outer shell between an extended position and a retracted position;   c) a biasing device, coupled to the pivot rod to bias the pivot rod to retracted position; and   d) a stop coupled to an end of the pivot rod opposite the pivot end, the stop being sized and shaped to retain the pivot rod in the outer shell when the pivot rod is in the extended position.   
   
   
       18 . A joint in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the tapered receptacle further includes a keyway formed in a sidewall of the tapered receptacle, the keyway being sized and shaped to receive the leg when the leg is positioned in a stowed position. 
   
   
       19 . A joint in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the widening walls of the tapered receptacle are disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the leg and the narrowing walls of the insert are disposed at a corresponding angle to the widening walls. 
   
   
       20 . A joint in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the widening walls of the tapered receptacle are disposed at an at an angle of approximately 15 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the leg and the narrowing walls of the insert are disposed at a corresponding angle of approximately 15 degrees. 
   
   
       21 . A method for positioning a leg to support a platform, comprising:
 a) moving the leg from a stowed position to a support position with respect to the platform; and   b) sliding an insert on one of either the leg or the platform into a receptacle on the other of the leg or the platform, the insert having narrowing walls engageable with corresponding widening walls in the receptacle.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 placing a load on the platform to secure the narrowing walls of the insert against the widening walls of the receptacle.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a) sliding the insert away from the receptacle to disengage the narrowing walls of the insert from the widening walls of the receptacle; and   b) moving the leg from the support position to the stowed position.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the receptacle has straight widening walls and the insert has straight narrowing walls selectively insertable into the receptacle. 
   
   
       25 . A joint between a leg and an elevated platform, comprising:
 a) a platform with at least one leg;   b) a tapered receptacle having straight, flat widening walls coupled to one of either the leg or the platform;   c) a mating insert coupled to the other of the leg or the platform and selectively insertable into the tapered receptacle, the mating insert having straight, flat narrowing walls engageable with the widening walls of the tapered receptacle;   d) the insert being removably insertable into the receptacle such that the narrowing walls of the insert engage the widening walls of the tapered receptacle; and   e) a pivoting rod extending between the tapered receptacle and the mating insert, and pivotally coupling the leg to the platform with the leg being pivotal between:
 i) a stowed position with the insert removed from the tapered receptacle; and 
 ii) a support position with the insert disposed in the tapered receptacle.