Adjustable height platform

Abstract

An adjustable height system that provides an automatic manner of height adjustment for a platform. The platform is supported by a frame including a scissor lift assembly which raises and lowers the platform to any desirable height. The height is adjusted by activating a portable drive device which is engaged with an adapter element that couples a gearbox to a threaded drive member that actuates the scissor lift assembly. Using the portable drive device in forward or reverse, the platform is respectively raised and lowered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable height platform system comprising:
 a frame comprising an upper channel member and a lower channel member, the upper channel member comprising a first channel along the length of a first side and a lower channel member comprising a second channel along the length of the first side of the frame;   a scissor lift assembly comprising an upper pivot support member pivotably attached to the upper channel member and a lower pivot support member attached to the lower channel member, the upper pivot support member and the lower pivot support member being rotatably connected to one another in a scissor arrangement;   a gearbox coupled to the frame and being operably connected to an adapter element, the adapter element being configured to be driven by a portable drive device, the gearbox also being operably connected to a threaded drive member rotatably coupled to the frame; and   a driven member mounted on the threaded drive member and configured to translate along a linear direction in response to rotation of the threaded drive member, the driven member being attached to a moveable support point of the lower pivot support member;   wherein the translation of the driven member along the linear direction moves the moveable support point along a surface of the upper channel member altering the angle between the lower pivot support member and the upper pivot support member and altering the distance between the upper channel member and the lower channel member.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable drive device is a cordless drill. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linear direction is parallel to the first side. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded drive device includes a first portion comprising right-handed threads on a second portion comprising left-handed threads, wherein the first portion is threadably engaged with a first driven member and the second portion is threadably engaged with a second driven member. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable support point includes a wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a platform coupled to the frame, wherein the platform is supported by the frame and forms a support surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising an aperture arranged and disposed to permit access to the adapter element through the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising an accessory structure coupled to the platform. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the accessory structure is a wheeled transport. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the scissor lift assembly comprising at least one cross piece oriented substantially parallel to the support surface and having a groove configured to receive the screw when the apparatus is in a collapsed position. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second support structures each include a cross member having an area configured to stabilize the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is comprised of aluminum. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded drive member is an ACME screw. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gearbox is a right angle gearbox. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded drive member is rotatably mounted to the frame via the gearbox at one end and a rotatable mount at an opposite end. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the rotatable mount includes a ball bearing arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . An adjustable height platform system comprising:
 a frame comprising a first upper channel member, a second upper channel member, a first lower channel member and a second lower channel member, the first upper channel member comprising a first upper channel along the length of a first side of the frame and a first lower channel member comprising a first lower channel along the length of the first side, the second upper channel member comprising a second upper channel along the length of a second side of the frame and a second lower channel member comprising a second lower channel along the length of the second side;   a scissor lift assembly comprising four sets of support members, each set of support members comprising an upper pivot support member pivotably attached to either the first upper channel member or second upper support member and the lower pivot support member being attached to either the first lower channel member or the second lower channel member, the upper pivot support member and the lower pivot support member of each set being rotatably connected to one another in a scissor arrangement;   a gearbox coupled to the frame and being operably connected to an adapter element, the adapter element being configured to be driven by a portable drive device, the gearbox also being operably connected to a threaded drive member rotatably coupled to the frame; and   a first driven member and a second driven member, each of the first driven member and the second driven member being mounted on the threaded drive member and each being configured to translate along a linear direction in response to rotation of the threaded drive member, the first driven member being attached to a moveable support point of the lower pivot support member of at least one set of support members, the second driven member being attached to a moveable support point of the lower pivot support member of a different at least one set of support members;   wherein the translation of the driven member along the linear direction moves the moveable support point along a surface of the upper channel member altering the angle between the lower pivot support member and the upper pivot support member and altering the distance between the upper channel member and the lower channel member.   
     
     
         18 . An adjustable height stage system comprising:
 a plurality of adjustable height platform systems, each adjustable height platform system comprising:
 a frame comprising an upper channel member and a lower channel member, the upper channel member comprising a first channel along the length of a first side and a lower channel member comprising a second channel along the length of the first side; 
 a scissor lift assembly comprising an upper pivot support member pivotably attached to the upper channel member and the lower pivot support member attached to the lower channel member, the upper pivot support member and the lower pivot support member being rotatably connected to one another in a scissor arrangement; 
 a gearbox coupled to the frame and being operably connected to an adapter element, the adapter element being configured to be driven by a portable drive device, the gearbox also being operably connected to a threaded drive member rotatably coupled to the frame; and 
 a driven member mounted on the threaded drive member and configured to translate along a linear direction in response to rotation of the threaded drive member, the driven member being attached to a moveable support point of the lower pivot support member; 
 wherein the translation of the driven member along the linear direction moves the moveable support point along a surface of the upper channel member altering the angle between the lower pivot support member and the upper pivot support member and altering the distance between the upper channel member and the lower channel member; 
   wherein at least two of the adjustable height platform systems are connected to form a continuous support surface.