초록 ▼

A presently-preferred device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a platform comprises a trunnion member adapted to be fixedly coupled to the personal-transport device and comprising a first and a second trunnion. The presently-preferred device also comprises a receptacle comprising a yoke a

A presently-preferred device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a platform comprises a trunnion member adapted to be fixedly coupled to the personal-transport device and comprising a first and a second trunnion. The presently-preferred device also comprises a receptacle comprising a yoke arm adapted to be fixedly coupled to the platform and comprising two side panels each having a slot formed therein. The receptacle further comprises two hook levers pivotally coupled to the respective side panels. The hook levers are pivotally biased so that the hook levers contact respective trunnions and interfere with movement thereof toward open ends of the slots when the platform is in an upper position, whereby the trunnion member is secured to the receptacle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a platform movable between a lower position proximate the ground, and an upper position, comprising:a trunnion member comprising a trunnion bracket adapted to be fixedly coupled to the personal-transport device, and a first and a second trunni

1. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a platform movable between a lower position proximate the ground, and an upper position, comprising:a trunnion member comprising a trunnion bracket adapted to be fixedly coupled to the personal-transport device, and a first and a second trunnion fixedly coupled to opposing sides of the trunnion bracket; and a receptacle comprising (i) a yoke arm adapted to be fixedly coupled to the platform and comprising a first and an opposing second side panel each having a slot formed therein, the slots each having an open end through which the slots are adapted to receive a respective one of the first and second trunnions, and a closed end, and (ii) a first and a second hook lever pivotally coupled to the respective first and second side panels, wherein the first and second hook levers are pivotally biased so that the first and second hook levers contact the respective first and second trunnions and interfere with movement of the respective first and second trunnions toward the open ends of the respective slots when the platform is in the upper position, whereby the trunnion member is secured to the receptacle. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the yoke arm further comprises a bottom panel fixedly coupled to the side panels and being substantially perpendicular thereto so that the yoke arm is substantially U-shaped.3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second hook levers are pivotally biased by a respective first and second spring coupled to the respective first and second hook levers and the platform.4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first and a second bridge weldment adapted to be fixedly coupled to a frame of the platform and the receptacle, wherein the first and second bridge weldments each have a substantially L-shaped cross section and are adapted to support edges of the yoke arm.5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second trunnions intersect respective planes of rotation of the first and second hook lever when the first and second trunnions are positioned within the respective slots.6. The device of claim 1, wherein the platform is movable in a first direction between the upper and lower positions and the first and second trunnions extend from the opposing sides of the trunnion bracket along an axis oriented in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.7. The device of claim 6, wherein the slots are adapted to receive the first and second trunnions in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions.8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first and a second wheel rotatably coupled to the respective first and second hook levers and being adapted to contact the ground when the platform is moved from the upper to the lower position, the contact between the wheels and the ground causing the first and second hook levers to pivot away from the respective first and second trunnions thereby releasing the first and second trunnions from the receptacle.9. The device of claim 8, wherein a first end of the respective first and second hook levers contacts the respective first and second trunnions, the first and second wheels are rotatably coupled to respective second ends of the respective first and second hook levers, and the first and second hook levers each pivot about a point located between the respective first and second ends.10. The device of claim 1, wherein the trunnion member further comprises a mounting portion and a first and second lip portion extending from the mounting portion, wherein the trunnions are fixedly coupled to the respective first and second lip portions.11. The device of claim 10, wherein the trunnion member comprises a third lip extending from the mounting portion adjacent the first lip, and a fourth lip extending from the mounting portion adjacent the second lip, the third and fourth lips being angled in relation to the respective first and second lips so that a forward end of the trunnion member is narrower than a rearward end of the trunnion member.12. The device of claim 10, wherein the trunnion member is adapted to be fixedly coupled to the personal-transport device by a bracket adapted to engage a structural member on the personal-transport device so that the structural member is securely positioned between the bracket and the mounting portion.13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second hook levers each have a substantially rounded edge portion and the substantially rounded edge portions interfere with movement of the respective first and second trunnions toward the open ends of the respective slots when the platform is in the upper position.14. The device of claim 13, wherein the rounded edge portions substantially conform to a portion of an outer circumference of the respective first and second trunnions.15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first and second hook levers each have a substantially straight portion adjoining the respective substantially rounded edge portions to thereby form a hook-shaped portion on the respective first and second hook levers, and the hook-shaped portions interfere with movement of the respective first and second trunnions toward the open ends of the respective slots when the platform is in the upper position.16. The device of claim 15, wherein the slots are adapted to receive the respective first and second trunnions in a first direction and the first and second side panels each have an edge portion adjoining an edge of the respective slots and being angled in relation to the first direction so that the respective edge portions are adapted to guide the first and second trunnions into the respective slots.17. The device of claim 16, wherein the substantially straight portions of the respective first and second hook levers and the edge portions of the respective first and second side panels are oriented at a substantially identical angle when the platform is in the lower position.18. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a platform of a lift and carrier assembly adapted to move the platform between a lower position proximate the ground, and an upper position, comprising:a trunnion member comprising (i) a trunnion bracket adapted to be fixedly coupled to the personal-transport vehicle and having a first and an opposing second lip portion, and (ii) a first and a second substantially cylindrical trunnion fixedly coupled to and extending from the respective first and second lip portions; and a receptacle comprising (i) a substantially U-shaped yoke arm adapted to be fixedly coupled to the platform and comprising a first and an opposing second side panel each having a slot formed therein, the slots each having an open end through which the slots are adapted to receive a respective one of the first and second trunnions, and a closed end, and (ii) a first and a second hook lever pivotally coupled to the respective first and second side panels and being movable to and from a locking position and a releasing position in response to movement of the platform to and from the upper to the lower positions, wherein the first and second hook levers each have a substantially hook-shaped portion adapted to securely engage the respective first and second trunnions when the first and second hook levers are in the locking position so that the first and second trunnions are restricted from moving toward the open ends of the respective slots, whereby the trunnion member is secured to the receptacle when the platform is in the upper position. 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the first and side panels each comprise a tab portion extending therefrom and adapted to contact the respective first and second hook levers when the first and second hook levers are in the locking position and thereby interfere with pivotal movement of the first and second hook levers past the locking position.20. The device of claim 18, wherein the platform is movable in a first direction between the upper and lower positions and the first and second trunnions extend from the respective first and second lip portions along an axis oriented in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.21. The device of claim 20, wherein the slots are adapted to receive the first and second trunnions in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions.22. The device of claim 18, further comprising a first and a second wheel rotatably coupled to the respective first and second hook levers and being adapted to contact the ground when the platform is moved from the upper position to the lower position, the contact between the wheels and the ground causing the first and second hook levers to pivot from the locking position to the releasing position thereby releasing the first and second trunnions from the receptacle.23. The device of claim 22, wherein the first and second hook levers are biased so that the first and second hook levers pivot toward the locking position when the platform is moved from the lower position to the upper position.24. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a platform movable between a lower position proximate the ground, and an upper position, comprising:a trunnion member comprising a trunnion bracket adapted to be fixedly coupled to the personal-transport vehicle, and a first and a second trunnion fixedly coupled to opposing sides of the trunnion bracket; and a receptacle comprising (i) a yoke arm adapted to be fixedly coupled to the platform and comprising a first and an opposing second side panel each having a slot formed therein, the slots being adapted to receive a respective one of the first and second trunnions, and (ii) means for confining the first and second trunnions within the respective slots responsive to movement of the platform from the lower to the upper positions. 25. The device of claim 24, wherein the platform is movable in a first direction between the upper and lower positions and the first and second trunnions extend from the opposing sides of the trunnion bracket along an axis oriented in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.26. A device for securing a personal-transport vehicle to a platform of a lift and carrier assembly adapted to move the platform in a first direction between a lower position proximate the ground, and an upper position, comprising:a trunnion member comprising (i) a trunnion bracket adapted to be fixedly coupled to the personal-transport vehicle and having a first and an opposing second lip portion, and (ii) a first and a second trunnion fixedly coupled to and extending from the respective first and second lip portions along an axis oriented in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a receptacle comprising (i) a substantially U-shaped yoke arm adapted to be fixedly coupled to the platform and comprising a first and an opposing second side panel each having a slot formed therein, the slots being adapted to receive the respective first and second trunnions through respective open ends thereof, and the slots each having a closed end defined by a substantially curvilinear edge portion on the respective first and second side panels, and (ii) a first and a second hook lever pivotally coupled to the respective first and second side panels and being movable between a locking position and a releasing position, wherein the first and second hook levers are biased toward the locking position, the first and the second trunnions intersect respective planes of rotation of the first and second hook levers, the first and second hook levers are adapted to urge the respective first and second trunnions toward the substantially curvilinear edge portions on the respective first and second side panels when the first and second hook levers are in the locking position thereby securing the trunnion member to the receptacle, and (iii) a first and a second wheel rotatably coupled to the respective first and second hook levers and being adapted to contact the ground when the platform is moved from the upper to the lower position, the contact between the wheels and the ground causing the first and second hook levers to pivot away from the respective first and second trunnions thereby releasing the first and second trunnions from the receptacle.