Recreational vehicle portable deck
The present invention is a free standing portable deck for use with recreational vehicles. The deck further comprises a polygonal shape lower support frame. The support frame further comprises a plurality of removably interconnected rails. A flat planar platform portion is being removably mounted upon the lower support frame. A plurality of leg members are being disposed underneath the lower support frame at each corner such that the platform portion is held in a substantially level position at a predetermined height in relation to the recreational vehicle door. Each leg member is removably connected to each corner of the lower support frame. The upper support frame is removably connected to the lower support frame and extends linearly upward. At least one step means provides for ingressing and regressing onto the platform portion. The at least one step means is located at a predetermined distance from the lower support frame and at a predetermined height in relation to the ground level. The upper support frame forms a partial enclosure of the platform portion. Disassembly means is provided for completely disconnecting the deck for easy storage.
The present invention relates to decks and more particularly the present invention relates to portable decks for recreational vehicles.
The use of portable decks for recreational vehicles is known in the prior art. The decks disclosed in the prior arts deal with portable decks which primarily attach to the underside of the recreational vehicle. The known prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,484, U.S. Pat No. 4,747,243, and U.S. Pat. No. 5417,468.
The present invention relates to a free standing portable deck which can be fully disassembled. While inventors in the past have directed their efforts toward creating collapsible decks which might be easily stored, none of the prior art of which applicant is aware discloses a portable deck with the unique features taught by the present invention.
SUMMARYThe present invention provides a free standing portable deck for use with recreational vehicles. The deck further comprises an assembled base frame defined by a plurality of individually adjustable ground engaging elongated leg members and a plurality of individually adjustable shorter ground engaging leg members. Each leg members is removably interlocked with a plurality of elongated rail members forming a lower support frame structure having a polygonal shape external perimeter frame with a predefined number of corners. The lower support frame structure is adapted to receive a flat planar platform portion.
Each shorter leg member has a first corner angle male coupling means fixably attached to its upper end. Each elongated leg member has a second corner angle male coupling means attached to its distal end. The second corner angle is fixably attached to each elongated leg member at a position equivalent to the height of each shorter leg member. Each corner angle of the first and second male coupling means are dimensioned according to its corresponding corner angle in the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame.
Each rail member in the external perimeter frame has a female coupling means incorporated at each opposite end. Each female coupling means is removably interlocked with its corresponding male coupling means such that the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame is formed.
The deck of the present invention further comprises an upper support frame defined by a plurality of vertical rails, a banister structural member and a plurality of rail support panels.
Each vertical rail is perpendicularly coupled to the external perimeter frame at a strategic location in parallel relation to its corresponding elongated leg member. Each vertical rail member and its corresponding elongated leg member extend linearly upward to a fixed length forming a plurality of upright structural beams.
The deck of the present invention further comprises the banister member having a partially enclosed polygonal shape corresponding to the shape of external perimeter frame. Each corner of the banister structural member is adapted to be removably coupled to the upper end of each structural beam wherein the entire deck is securely and fixably held in place.
In the present invention, each rail support panel is disposed between two structural beams with each rail support panel being removeably connected at a substantially midpoint between the two structural beams. When connected to the assembled base frame, the upper support frame forms a partial enclosure of the platform portion leaving a frontal opening for ingressing and egressing into the door of the recreational vehicle and at least one side opening.
The deck of the present invention further comprises at least one step means for ingressing and egressing onto the platform portion. The at least one step means is removably coupled to the at least one side opening in the external perimeter frame. Finally, each element of the deck of the present invention can be easily disassembled for storage in the trunk of a car.
Referring initially to
Each ground engaging leg member (112, 113) of deck (100) shown in
Referring now to
The lower support frame structure further comprises each rail member (128) in the external perimeter frame (116) having a female coupling means (533) disposed at each opposite end. In the illustrated embodiment, the female coupling means (533) is formed from an internal bore disposed at each opposite end. Each internal bore is dimensioned to fit a protruding rod of a matching male coupling means (512, 513). To form the shape of the external perimeter frame (116) each female coupling means (533) is slideably coupled to its matching male coupling means (512, 513). Then, each rail member (128) is secured to male coupling means (512, 513) by a threaded bolt fastener (129).
Referring back to
Referring to
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper support frame (150) further comprises a plurality of elongated vertical rails (170), a banister structural member (175), and a plurality of rail support panels (176). Each vertical rail member (170) is removably coupled to the external perimeter frame (116) of the lower support frame (115) at strategic location in a perpendicular position in parallel relation to its corresponding elongated leg member (112). As shown, each vertical rail member (170) and its corresponding elongated leg member (112) extend linearly upward to a fixed length to form a plurality of structural vertical beams.
In the illustrated embodiment, the banister structural member (175) is removably coupled to the upper end of each structural vertical beam (112, 170). Referring to
To form the partial enclosure of the platform portion (120), each rail support panel (176) is disposed between two supporting vertical beams (170). Each rail support panel (176) is removeably connected at a substantially midpoint between two vertical structural beams utilizing threaded bolt fasteners. In the illustrated embodiment, each rail support panel (176) further comprises a plurality of beams (177) fixably connected into a pattern arrangement. To support the partial enclosure of the platform portion (120), each rail support panel is configured with a predefined width and with a predefine length corresponding to the distance between the two supporting vertical structural beams (170, 112).
Deck (100) of the present invention further includes a step member for ingressing and egressing onto the platform portion. Referring to
Referring to
The illustrated embodiment in
Referring to
The step means (200) illustrated in
In some specific embodiments of deck (100) each second leg member (240) of step means (200) can be individually adjustable as shown in
Referring back to the illustrated embodiment in
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment in
Referring to
The deck (100) is adapted with disassembly means for completely disconnecting the deck (100) for easy storage. The attaching edges of each element of deck (100) are configured to be easily connected and disconnected from its counter element. The assembled base frame rail members can be easily unbolted and decoupled from each leg member. The upper support frame vertical rails can be decoupled from the lower support frame and each rail support panel can be unbolted from its two supporting vertical beams. The panels of the platform portion can be easily demounted from the lower support frame. The at least one step member can be unbolted from the lower support frame. After each element of the deck is disassembled, the disassembled deck can be stored in the trunk of a car.
In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the platform portion can be extended. In order to extend the platform portion, the external perimeter frame of the lower support structure must be extended. Referring to
In alternative embodiments of the present invention, lower support frame can have the shape of other polygons. In those alternative embodiments the other elements of the deck (100) would have to be adjusted to fit the new shape of the polygon.
Claims
1. A free standing portable deck for use with recreational vehicles, the deck comprising:
- a lower frame structure defined by a plurality of individually adjustable ground engaging elongated leg members with a distal end and a plurality of individually adjustable shorter ground engaging leg members with an upper end; a plurality of individual elongated rail members;
- the upper end of the shorter leg members and the distal end of the elongated leg members being removably interlocked to the opposing ends of a first subset of the plurality of elongated rail members such that a polygonal shape external perimeter frame with a predefined number of corners is assembled;
- a second subset of the elongated rail members being removably disposed within the external perimeter frame to form an internal frame dissecting the external perimeter frame into a plurality of receiving channels;
- the lower support frame structure being adapted to receive a flat planar platform portion within the receiving channels;
- an upper support frame defined by a plurality of structural members removably coupled to the lower support frame wherein the upper support frame is adapted to secure the assembled deck firmly and fixably in place;
- the upper support frame forming a partial enclosure of the external perimeter frame with a frontal opening for ingressing and egressing into the door of the recreational vehicle door and at least one side opening;
- at least one step means for ingressing and egressing onto the platform portion, the at least one step means being removably coupled to the at least one side opening in the external perimeter frame; and
- each shorter leg member having a first corner angle male coupling means fixably attached to its upper end;
- each elongated leg member having a second corner angle male coupling means attached to a distal end, the second corner angle being fixably attached at a position equivalent to the height of each shorter leg member;
- each corner angle being dimensioned according to a corresponding corner angle in the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame;
- each rail member in the external perimeter frame having a female coupling means at each opposite end; and
- each female coupling means being removably interlocked with a corresponding male coupling means such that the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame is formed;
- a disassembly means for completely disconnecting the deck for easy storage.
2. The deck of claim 1 further comprising at least ramp step means. The deck of claim 1 further comprising: each shorter leg member having a first corner angle male coupling means fixably attached to its upper end; each elongated leg member having a second corner angle male coupling means attached to a distal end, the second corner angle being fixably attached at a position equivalent to the height of each shorter leg member; each corner angle being dimensioned according to a corresponding corner angle in the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame; each rail member in the external perimeter frame having a female coupling means at each opposite end; and each female coupling means being removably interlocked with a corresponding male coupling means such that the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame is formed.
3. The deck of claim 1 wherein a subset of the elongated rail members are removably disposed within the external perimeter frame to form an internal frame dissecting the external perimeter frame into a plurality of receiving channels.
4. The deck of claim 1 wherein the platform portion further comprises:
- a plurality of side by side panels disposed across the width of the lower support frame structure;
- each panel having a plurality of holding guide struts attached to an underside;
- the holding guide struts being positioned and dimensioned for insertion into the receiving channels such that the outer peripheral edges of each panel removably interlock with the outer peripheral edges of an adjoining panel to form a secure flat continuous planar surface.
5. The deck of claim 4 wherein the panels are made of wood.
6. The deck of claim 4 wherein the panels are made of metallic mesh material.
7. The deck of claim 4 wherein the external perimeter frame is rectangular shaped and is dissected by the internal frame into two equivalent receiving channels.
8. The deck of claim 4 wherein the external perimeter frame is rectangular shaped and is dissected by the internal frame into four equivalent receiving channels.
9. The deck of claim 1 wherein the at least one step means is disconnected from the external perimeter frame.
10. The deck of claim 9 wherein the at least one step means further comprises:
- a second lower support frame having a polygonal shape defined by a plurality of rail members;
- a flat planar second platform portion being removably mounted upon the second lower support frame;
- a plurality of second leg members corresponding to the number of corners in the shape of the second lower support frame; and
- each second leg member being disposed underneath the second lower support frame at each corner, each leg member being adapted to be removably coupled to each corner of the second lower support frame such that the second platform portion is held in a substantially level position at a predetermined height in relation to the ground level.
11. The deck of claim 12 wherein the second platform portion further comprises:
- at least one panel being disposed across the width of the second lower support frame;
- each panel having holding guide struts attached to an underside; and
- the holding guide struts being positioned and dimensioned to mount upon second lower support frame such that the at least one panel forms a flat planar surface.
12. The deck of claim 1 wherein each shorter leg member and each elongated leg member further comprises:
- an adjustable slideably rail having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being adapted to telescope onto the lower portion, and
- a locking mechanism for holding the upper portion and the lower portion into a set position such that the adjustable rail is held at a height in relation to the ground level.
13. The deck of claim 1 wherein the upper support frame further comprises:
- a plurality of vertical rails, a one-piece banister structural member and a plurality of rail support panels;
- each vertical rail being perpendicularly coupled to the external perimeter frame at a strategic location in parallel relation to an corresponding elongated leg member;
- each vertical rail member and an corresponding elongated leg member extending linearly upward to a fixed length forming a plurality of structural beams;
- the banister member having a partially enclosed polygonal shape corresponding to the external perimeter frame;
- each corner of the banister structural member being adapted to be removably coupled to the upper end of each structural beam wherein the entire deck is securely held in place; and
- each rail support panel being disposed between two structural beams, each rail support panel being removeably connected at a substantially midpoint between the two structural beams whereby the upper support frame forms a partial enclosure of the external perimeter frame leaving at least one opening for ingress and egress onto the at least one step member.
14. The deck of claim 13 wherein each rail support panel further comprises a plurality of beams fixably interconnected into a pattern arrangement.
15. The deck of claim 14 wherein each rail support panel is configured with a predefined width for supporting the partial enclosure of the platform portion and a predefined width corresponding to the distance between the two vertical rails.
16. The deck of claim 1 wherein the at least one step means further comprises:
- two parallel ground engaging leg members being a set distance apart and extending at an incline downward to the ground level;
- a bracket means integrated into the top end of each ground engaging leg member and adapted to attach to the external perimeter frame; and
- a plurality of step members, each step member being situated at an equidistance between the two ground engaging leg members and being pivotally attached to the two ground engaging members.
17. The deck of claim 2 wherein the at least one handicap step means further comprises:
- two parallel ground engaging leg members being a set distance apart and extending at an, incline downward to the ground level;
- a bracket means being integrated into the top end of each ground engaging leg member and adapted to connect to the external perimeter frame; and
- a ramp member being disposed between the two between the two ground engaging leg members whereby a handicap person can ingress and egress onto the platform portion.
18. The deck of claim 1 further comprising:
- each shorter leg member having a first corner angle male coupling means fixably attached to its upper end;
- each elongated leg member having a second corner angle male coupling means attached to a distal end, the second corner angle being fixably attached at a position equivalent to the height of each shorter leg member;
- each corner angle being dimensioned according to a corresponding corner angle in the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame;
- each rail member in the external perimeter frame having a female coupling means at each opposite end; and
- each female coupling means being removably interlocked with a corresponding male coupling means such that the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame is formed.
19. The deck of claim 1 further comprising means for extending the length of the platform portion.
20. The deck of claim 10 wherein each second leg member further comprises:
- an adjustable slideably rail having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being adapted to telescope onto the lower portion, and
- a locking mechanism for holding the upper portion and the lower portion into a set position such that the adjustable rail is held at a height in relation to the ground level.
21. A free standing portable deck for use with recreational vehicles, the deck comprising:
- an assembled base frame defined by a plurality of individually adjustable ground engaging elongated leg members and a plurality of individually adjustable shorter ground engaging leg members;
- the leg members being removably interlocked with a plurality of elongated rail members forming a lower support frame structure having a polygonal shape external perimeter frame with a predefined number of corners;
- the lower support frame structure being adapted to receive a flat planar platform portion;
- each shorter leg member having a first corner angle male coupling means fixably attached to an upper end;
- each elongated leg member having a second corner angle male coupling means attached to a distal end, the second corner angle being fixably attached at a position equivalent to the height of each shorter leg member;
- each corner angle being dimensioned according to a corresponding corner angle in the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame;
- each rail member in the external perimeter frame having a female coupling means at each opposite end;
- each female coupling means being removably interlocked with a corresponding male coupling means such that the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame is formed;
- an upper support frame being defined by a plurality of vertical rails, a banister structural member and a plurality of rail support panels;
- the first male coupling and the second male coupling further comprises two short protruding rods being securely connected together to form the corner angle.
- each vertical rail being perpendicularly coupled to the external perimeter frame at a strategic location in parallel relation to a corresponding elongated leg member;
- each vertical rail member and a corresponding elongated leg member extending linearly upward to a fixed length forming a plurality of structural beams;
- the banister member having a partially enclosed polygonal shape corresponding to the shape of external perimeter frame;
- each corner of the banister structural member being adapted to be removably coupled to the upper end of each structural beam wherein the entire deck is securely and fixably held in place;
- each rail support panel being disposed between two structural beams, each rail support panel being removeably connected at a substantially midpoint between the two structural beams
- wherein the upper support frame forms a partial enclosure of the external perimeter frame leaving a frontal opening for ingressing and egressing into the door of the recreational vehicle and at least one side opening;
- at least one step means for ingressing and egressing onto the platform portion, the at least one step means being removably coupled to the at least one side opening in the external perimeter frame; and
- a disassembly means for completely disconnecting the deck for easy storage.
22. The deck of claim 1 further comprising:
- a first T shape extension coupler and a second T shape extension coupler, the first and second T coupler having a short linear member perpendicular attached a second member;
- a first rail member extending vertically across the width of the external perimeter frame;
- the first T coupler being removably coupled to a first end of the first rail member and the second T coupler being removably coupled to a second opposite end of the first rail member;
- the external perimeter frame being defined by an upper external perimeter frame and a lower external perimeter frame;
- a first extension rail member having a first end and an opposite second end;
- a second extension rail member having a first end and an opposite second end;
- the first end of the first extension rail member being removably connected to distal end of the elongated leg member and the first end of the second extension rail member being removably connected to the upper end of the shorter leg member;
- the first T coupler interconnecting the upper external perimeter frame to the opposite second end of the first extension rail member.
- the second T coupler interconnecting the lower external perimeter frame to the opposite second end of the second extension rail member such that an extended external perimeter is assembled;
- a third subset of the elongated rail members being removably disposed within the extended external perimeter frame to form an internal frame dissecting the extended perimeter frame into additional receiving channels to support the extended dimensions of the platform portion.
23. The deck of claim 18 wherein the first male coupling and the second male coupling further comprises two short protruding rods being securely connected together to form the corner angle.
24. The deck of claim 1 wherein the first and second male coupling are right angles.
25. The deck of claim 1 wherein the female coupling further comprises:
- an internal bore formed at opposed ends and dimensioned to engage with the protruding rod of a matching male coupling, wherein the external perimeter frame is assembled into the corresponding polygonal shape; and
- a fastener adapted to secure to male coupling and female coupling in place.
26. The deck of claim 13 wherein the banister member further comprises:
- a short protruding rod at each corner of the polygon of the banister member; and
- the short protruding rod extending in a downward direction;
27. The deck of claim 26 wherein:
- each structural beam have an internal bore at an upper end;
- each elongated leg member having an internal bore at an upper end;
- the internal bore of the structural beam and the elongated leg member dimensioned to engage with a corresponding protruding rod of the banister member such that the banister can be securely coupled to the structural beam and the elongated leg members.
28. A kit for a portable deck for a recreational vehicle, the kit comprising:
- a plurality of individually adjustable ground engaging elongated leg members;
- a plurality of individually shorter adjustable ground engaging leg members;
- a plurality of individual elongated rail members having a first subset and a second subset which form a lower support frame structure, wherein when a subset of the elongated rail members are removably interlocked with the elongated leg member and the shorter leg members an external polygonal shape perimeter is formed and when the second subset of the elongated rail members being removably disposed within the external perimeter frame to form an internal frame dissecting the external perimeter frame into a plurality of receiving channels;
- a plurality of panels being removably disposed within the plurality of receiving channels to from a platform portion;
- a plurality of vertical rails wherein each vertical rail being perpendicularly coupled to the external perimeter frame at a strategic location in parallel relation to a corresponding elongated leg member and extending linearly upward to a fixed length forming a plurality of vertical structural beams;
- a one-piece banister structural member having a partially enclosed polygonal shape corresponding to the shape of the external perimeter frame wherein each corner of the banister member is adapted to be removably coupled to an upper end of a corresponding vertical rail and an upper end of a corresponding elongated leg member to form an upper support frame structure;
- at least one step member; and
- a plurality of rail support panels which are removably at a substantially midpoint disposed between two vertical structural beams whereby the upper support frame forms a partial enclosure of the external perimeter frame leaving at least one opening for ingress and egress onto the at least one step member;
- each vertical rail being perpendicularly coupled to the external perimeter frame at a strategic location in parallel relation to a corresponding elongated leg member;
- each vertical rail member and an corresponding elongated leg member extending linearly upward to a fixed length forming a plurality of structural beams;
- the banister member having a partially enclosed polygonal shape corresponding to the external perimeter frame;
- each corner of the banister structural member being adapted to be removably coupled to the upper end of each structural beam wherein the entire deck is securely held in place; and
- each rail support panel being disposed between two structural beams, each rail support panel being removeably connected at a substantially midpoint between the two structural beams whereby the upper support frame forms a partial enclosure of the external perimeter frame leaving at least one opening for ingress and egress onto the at least one step member;
- each shorter adjustable ground engaging leg member having a first corner angle male coupling means fixably attached to its upper end;
- each ground engaging elongated leg member having a second corner angle male coupling means attached to a distal end, the second corner angle being fixably attached at a position equivalent to the height of each adjustable ground engaging shorter leg member;
- each corner angle being dimensioned according to a corresponding corner angle in the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame;
- each rail member in the external perimeter frame having a female coupling means at each opposite end;
- each female coupling means being removably interlocked with a corresponding male coupling means such that the polygonal shape of the external perimeter frame is formed; and
- the first male coupling and the second male coupling further comprises two short protruding rods being securely connected together to form the corner angle.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 8, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 17, 2010
Inventor: Sonny L. Carson (Flint, TX)
Application Number: 11/899,932
International Classification: E04H 14/00 (20060101); E04F 11/00 (20060101); E04B 1/38 (20060101); E04F 11/18 (20060101);
