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A self-propelled vehicle comprises a frame and a platform pivotally mountable to a rear portion of the vehicle frame. The platform is pivotally movable between a first position in which the platform extends generally horizontally from the rear portion of the frame to support a rider during operation

A self-propelled vehicle comprises a frame and a platform pivotally mountable to a rear portion of the vehicle frame. The platform is pivotally movable between a first position in which the platform extends generally horizontally from the rear portion of the frame to support a rider during operation of the vehicle, and a second position in which the platform is removably secured in a generally upright position-adjacent the rear portion of the frame to enable walk-behind operation of the vehicle.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A self-propelled vehicle comprising: a frame; a rider support assembly including at least one support element and a platform extending generally outward from the at least one support element, wherein the at least one support element is pivotally mounted, via a pivot mechanism

What is claimed is: 1. A self-propelled vehicle comprising: a frame; a rider support assembly including at least one support element and a platform extending generally outward from the at least one support element, wherein the at least one support element is pivotally mounted, via a pivot mechanism, relative to a rear portion of the vehicle frame, the at least one support element is pivotally movable between a first position in which the platform extends in a generally horizontally orientation from the rear portion of the frame and is spaced above a ground surface to support a rider standing in an elevated position during ride-on operation of the vehicle and a second position in which the at least one support element is in a generally upright position adjacent the rear portion of the frame to enable walk-behind operation of the vehicle, wherein the at least one support element is interposed between the pivot mechanism and the platform to cause the platform to be spaced apart from the pivot mechanism; a stop mechanism located at the rear portion of the vehicle and configured to releasably engage the at least one support element to prevent pivotal movement of the platform downward beyond the generally horizontal orientation of the first position of the platform, wherein the stop mechanism is independent and separate from the platform, and wherein the stop mechanism is separate and independent of the pivot mechanism; and a latch mechanism disposed on the at least one support element of the rider support assembly, the latch mechanism configured to be automatically releasably engaged at the rear portion of the vehicle frame via an at least one-handed, first manipulation of the platform to releasably secure the platform in the second position and the latch mechanism configured to be automatically disengaged via an at least one-handed, second manipulation of the platform to release the platform from the second position for movement into the first position. 2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the latch mechanism comprises: a hook member pivotally mounted on the at least one support element of the rider support assembly and positioned between the pivot mechanism and the platform, the hook member including a recess; and a securing member disposed at the rear portion of the frame in a location to enable the recess of the hook member to be disengaged from the securing member when the platform is in the first position and to enable the securing member to releasably receive and secure the recess of the hook member when the platform is moved into the second position. 3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the stop mechanism is made from an elastomeric material configured to absorb shock between the platform and the frame of the vehicle. 4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the stop mechanism is a generally rectangular-shaped block rotatably positionable into at least two positions, in which each respective position causes a different surface of the block to support the at least one support element of the rider support assembly, and wherein each respective different surface of the block extends at a different angle relative to the frame to cause the support to be at a different height relative to the frame to thereby position the operator on the platform at different heights relative to the frame. 5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the platform further comprises a vibration-absorbing link interposed between the platform and the frame. 6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises: an upper portion having a control module; and a lower portion including a drive mechanism, a front portion, and the rear portion at which the operator is positioned to access the control module, wherein in the second position, the platform is maintained closely adjacent to the rear portion to enable walk-behind use of the vehicle with unobstructed access to the control module. 7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the platform includes an inner end connected to the at least one support element and an outer end opposite the inner end, wherein the outer end of the platform includes at least one of a wheel or a roller and the stop mechanism is separate and independent of the respective wheel or roller of the platform and the stop mechanism acts exclusively to limit the downward pivotal movement of the platform. 8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the platform includes an inner end connected to the at least one support element and an outer end opposite the inner end, wherein the outer end of the platform is configured without a ground-engaging structure and wherein the one-handed manipulation is performed on the outer end of the platform. 9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein upon disengagement of the latch mechanism relative to the rear portion of the vehicle frame, the platform pivotally moves from the generally upright, second position into the generally horizontal first position via the action of gravitational forces, and wherein the stop mechanism is positioned to cause releasable engagement of the at least one support element against the stop mechanism via gravitational forces. 10. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the pivot mechanism includes a first pivot point and a second pivot point with the respective first and second pivot points disposed on opposite sides of the platform, and wherein the latch mechanism is disposed on at least one of the opposite sides of the platform. 11. The vehicle of claim 1, comprising: a mounting frame secured to the rear portion of the vehicle frame when the latching mechanism is releasably engaged and disengaged, respectively, to the mounting frame to releasably secure and release, respectively, the platform in the respective first and second positions relative to the rear portion of the vehicle frame. 12. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the stop mechanism is spaced apart from the pivot mechanism. 13. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one support element is independent of the stop mechanism and freely movable relative to stop mechanism when disengaged relative to the stop mechanism. 14. A self-propelled vehicle comprising: a frame; a platform including an inner end pivotally mounted, via pivot mechanism, relative to a rear portion of the vehicle frame, the platform being pivotally movable between a first position in which the platform extends in a generally horizontally orientation from the rear portion of the frame and is spaced above a ground surface to support a rider standing in an elevated position during ride-on operation of the vehicle and a second position in which the platform is removably secured in a generally upright position adjacent the rear portion of the frame to enable walk-behind operation of the vehicle, wherein the pivot mechanism is disposed on each of opposite sides of the platform and comprises a pivot pin and wherein the pivot mechanism also comprises the inner end of the platform including a first slot slidably movable along and rotatable about the pivot pin; a stop mechanism mounted at the rear portion of the vehicle adjacent to the pivot mechanism, the stop mechanism configured to engage the inner end of the platform to prevent pivotal movement of the platform downward beyond the generally horizontal orientation of the first position of the platform, wherein the stop mechanism is independent and separate from the platform, and wherein the stop mechanism is separate from, and independent of, the pivot mechanism; and a latch mechanism disposed on at least one of the opposite sides of the platform at the inner end of the platform, and configured to be engaged to releasably secure the platform relative to the rear portion of the frame when the platform is in the second position and to be disengaged relative to the rear portion of the frame when the platform is in the first position. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the latch mechanism comprises: a second slot spaced laterally rearward from the pivot pin; and a securing pin disposed on the inner end of the platform in a location to be external to the second slot when the platform is in the first position and to be slidably inserted into the second slot when the platform is in the second position. 16. A self-propelled vehicle comprising: a frame; a platform including an inner portion pivotally mounted, via a pivot mechanism, relative to a rear portion of the vehicle frame, the platform being pivotally movable between a first position in which the platform extends in a generally horizontally orientation from the rear portion of the frame and is spaced above a ground surface to support a rider standing in an elevated position during ride-on operation of the vehicle and a second position in which the platform is removably secured in a generally upright position adjacent the rear portion of the frame to enable walk-behind operation of the vehicle; a stop mechanism mounted at the rear portion of the vehicle adjacent to the pivot mechanism, the stop mechanism configured to releasably engage the inner portion of the platform to prevent pivotal movement of the platform downward beyond the generally horizontal orientation of the first position of the platform, wherein the stop mechanism is independent and separate from the platform and wherein the stop mechanism is separate and independent of the pivot mechanism; at least one mounting member including: a first portion mountable to an end surface of the rear portion of the vehicle frame and extending generally parallel to the end surface; and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion of the mounting member, in a plane generally perpendicular to the first portion of the mounting member, to enable the pivotal mounting of the inner portion of the platform at a point spaced from, but adjacent to the end surface. 17. A self-propelled vehicle comprising: a frame; a platform including an inner portion pivotally mounted, via a pivot mechanism, relative to a rear portion of the vehicle frame, wherein the platform is pivotally movable between a first position in which the platform extends in a generally horizontally orientation from the rear portion of the frame and is spaced above a ground surface to support a rider standing in an elevated position during ride-on operation of the vehicle and a second position in which the platform is removably secured in a generally upright position adjacent the rear portion of the frame to enable walk-behind operation of the vehicle; a stop mechanism mounted at the rear portion of the vehicle adjacent to the pivot mechanism, wherein the stop mechanism is configured to releasably engage the inner portion of the platform to prevent pivotal movement of the platform downward beyond the generally horizontal orientation of the first position of the platform, wherein the stop mechanism is independent and separate from the platform, and wherein the stop mechanism is separate and independent of the pivot mechanism; at least one mounting member including: a first portion mountable to a side surface of the frame of the vehicle and extending generally parallel to the side surface of the frame; and a second portion extending outwardly and rearwardly from the first portion of the mounting frame, in a plane generally parallel to the first portion, to enable the pivotal mounting of the inner portion of the platform at a point spaced from, but adjacent the rear portion of the vehicle frame. 18. A platform system for a self-propelled vehicle, the platform system comprising: a platform including a surface sized and shaped to define an operator zone, the platform comprising an inner portion and an outer portion; a pivoting mechanism configured for pivotally mounting the inner portion of the platform relative to a rear portion of the self-propelled vehicle to enable movement of the outer portion between a releasably securable, generally upright storage position adjacent the rear portion of the self-propelled vehicle and a generally horizontal in-use position extending outwardly away from the rear portion of the vehicle to locate the operator zone adjacent a control mechanism of the self-propelled vehicle; a limiting mechanism configured to be secured relative to the rear portion of the self-propelled vehicle and configured to prevent pivotal movement of the outer portion of the platform downward below the generally horizontal in-use position, wherein the limiting mechanism is independent of, and separate from, the platform, and wherein the limiting mechanism is independent of, and separate from, the pivot mechanism; and a latch mechanism at least partially disposed on the inner portion of the platform and configured to be automatically releasably engaged relative to the rear portion of the vehicle frame via one-handed manipulation of the outer portion of the platform to releasably secure the platform in the generally upright storage position and configured to be automatically disengaged relative to the rear portion of the vehicle frame via one-handed manipulation of the outer portion of the platform to release the platform from the upright storage position for movement into the in-use position. 19. The platform system of claim 18 wherein the limiting mechanism is spaced apart from the pivot mechanism and wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises: a mounting frame securable onto the rear portion of the self-propelled vehicle; a first portion disposed on the mounting frame to enable pivotal mounting of the platform relative to the rear portion of the self-propelled vehicle; and a second portion disposed on the platform to enable releasable securing of the platform in the upright storage position. 20. A platform system comprising: a platform including a surface sized and shaped to define an operator zone; a positioning mechanism configured to pivotally mount the platform relative to a rear portion of a self-propelled vehicle such that the platform is movable between a releasably securable, generally upright storage position adjacent the rear portion of the vehicle and a generally horizontal in-use position extending outwardly and rearwardly away from the rear portion of the vehicle to locate the operator zone adjacent a control mechanism of the self-propelled vehicle, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises: a mounting frame securable onto the rear portion of the self-propelled vehicle; a first portion disposed on the mounting frame to enable the pivotal mounting of the platform relative to the rear portion of the self-propelled vehicle; a second portion disposed on the platform to enable the releasable securing of the platform in the storage position; and a first reciprocating portion disposed on at least one of the mounting frame or the platform, the first reciprocating portion sized and positioned to releasably engage the second portion when the platform is in the upright storage position; and a limiting mechanism configured to be secured in a fixed position relative to the rear portion of the self-propelled vehicle and configured to prevent pivotal movement of the platform downward below the generally horizontal in-use position, wherein the limiting mechanism is independent of, and separate from, the platform and wherein the limiting mechanism is independent of, and separate from, the positioning mechanism. 21. The platform system of claim 20 wherein the second portion comprises a hook member rotatably mounted to the platform with the hook member including a first slot, and wherein the first reciprocating portion is mounted on the mounting frame and comprises a second pin configured to releasably receive the first slot of the hook member. 22. The platform system of claim 20 wherein the first portion comprises: a first pin and a second, closed elongate slot defined in a support arm of the platform in which the first pin is pivotally and slidably movable, wherein the second portion comprises a third pin, and wherein the first reciprocating portion is disposed on the mounting frame and comprises a third open slot configured to slidably receive the third pin. 23. The vehicle of claim 20 wherein when the platform is in the generally upright storage position, the platform extends generally parallel to an end surface of the rear portion of the vehicle frame. 24. A self-propelled vehicle comprising: a frame; and a platform pivotally mounted, via a pivot pin, to a rear portion of the vehicle frame and pivotally movable between a first position in which the platform extends generally horizontally from the rear portion of the frame to support a rider during operation of the vehicle and a second position in which the platform is removably secured in a generally upright position adjacent the rear portion of the frame to enable walk-behind operation of the vehicle, wherein the platform comprises a support arm including a first portion positioned underneath the platform and a second portion forming a generally obtuse angle relative to the first portion, the second portion extending away from the platform inwardly toward the frame of the vehicle for pivotal mounting to the pivot pin, wherein the second portion of the support arm rests on top of the stop mechanism when the platform is in the first position. 25. A self-propelled vehicle comprising: a frame including a rear portion; a platform pivotally mounted, via a pivot mechanism, to the rear portion of the vehicle frame wherein the pivot mechanism includes a pivot pin located adjacent to the rear portion of the frame on each of opposite sides of the platform, wherein the platform is pivotally movable between a first position in which the platform extends generally horizontally from the rear portion of the frame to support a rider during operation of the vehicle and a second position in which the platform is removably secured in a generally upright position adjacent the rear portion of the frame to enable walk-behind operation of the vehicle; a latch mechanism disposed on at least one of the opposite sides of the platform, and configured to be engaged to releasably secure the platform relative to the rear portion of the frame when the platform is in the second position and to be disengaged relative to the rear portion of the frame when the platform is in the first position, wherein the pivot mechanism includes a stop mechanism positioned adjacent to, and spaced from, the pivot pin to limit downward pivoting movement of the platform relative to the frame when the platform is in the first position, and wherein the stop mechanism is a generally rectangular-shaped block rotatably positionable into at least two positions, in which each position causes a different surface of the block to support the pivot arm, and each different surface being at a different angle relative to the frame, to cause the support to be at a different height relative to the frame to thereby position the operator on the platform at different heights relative to the frame. 26. A method of supporting a rider behind a self-propelled loader, the method comprising: mounting, via a pivot mechanism, at least one support arm of a platform relative to a rear portion of the self-propelled loader to enable positioning the platform in a generally upright storage position to operate the loader in a walk-behind mode or positioning the platform in a generally horizontal position to operate the loader in a ride-on mode in which a user stands on the platform behind the loader; providing the walk-behind mode of operation of the loader via releasably securing the platform in the generally upright position adjacent to, and relative to, the rear portion of the loader via a hands-free releasable engagement of a latch mechanism relative to the rear portion of the loader, and including arranging the latch mechanism to be located on at least one of the rear portion of the loader and the at least one support arm; providing the ride-on mode of operation of the loader, when the latch mechanism is disengaged, via preventing downward pivotal movement of the platform beyond the generally horizontal position by releasably engaging the at least one support arm of the platform via a stop mechanism, and including arranging the stop mechanism to be located at the rear portion of the loader and wherein the stop mechanism is separate from, and independent of, the pivot mechanism; and switching between the walk-behind mode and the ride-on mode via selectively pivotally moving the platform, via a single-handed manipulation of an outer end of the platform, between the releasably securable generally upright position and the generally horizontal position. 27. The method of claim 26 wherein arranging the latch mechanism to be located on the rear portion of the loader comprises: providing the latch mechanism on a mounting frame interposed between the rear portion of the loader and the at least one support arm. 28. The method of claim 26 wherein arranging the stop mechanism to be located at the rear portion of the loader comprises: positioning the stop mechanism, on a mounting frame attached to the rear portion of the loader, to releasably engage an inner portion of the at least one support arm. 29. The method of claim 26 wherein providing the ride-on mode of operation of the loader comprises: arranging the stop mechanism to be spaced apart from the pivot mechanism. 30. The method of claim 26 wherein switching between the walk-behind mode and the ride-on mode via the single-handed manipulation comprises: additionally using a second hand, at the same time as the single hand, to perform the manipulation of the outer end of the platform.