AU2006100701A4 - Modular Elements for stock ramps - Google Patents

Description

15/08/2006 23:46 +61-2-95522894 WALSH AND ASSOCIATES PAGE 05/16 Va 0 0 (N4 i 0 0 0 0 0 -(c TEAAD ELE FOR ANIMAL RAMP 5 B a is tt 10 m u w cc e3 in Th or wt po at to

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NCKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to animal races and ramps and sociated fittings, and more particularly to a modular tread element which insertable in an animal ramp. The invention is particularly applicable ough not exclusively, to portable animal ramps, gangways and races lich animals negotiate during relocation particularly for loading and loading from vehicles. The invention further provides a tread module rich when used in conjunction with the same or similar modules Ilectively form a ramp tread on which animals traverse.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to an emplary application to portable ramps, but it is to be appreciated that the rention to be described herein is not limited to that application.

OR ART :re are in existence a large variety of access ramps for moving animals up lown from kraals or transport vehicles. Among the known ramps are those ich are fixed and those which are relatively lightweight and portable. The able ramps may be easily transported and assembled and disassembled by ser when moving animals from a lower to higher elevation or from higher ower elevation.

e known heavy animal ramps when assembled, usually remain as fixtures.

ere are a variely of circumstances which ideally require temporary 1ping for one off operations. For example sheep and cattle are often ved on and off transport vehicles such as utility trucks and larger trucks.

ese activities are preferably performed with a race or ramp which may be ily carried and altached to the vehicle or which is located permanently in sition. Use of portable ramps is common and are particularly useful for se jobs which are one off where the ramp can be packed up and isported. Those lamps which are too large or too heavy to be operated 1 COMS ID No: SBMI-04467105 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:35 Date 2006-08-15 15/08/2006 23:46 +61-2-95522894 WALSH AND ASSOCIATES PAGE 06/16 0 0 0 0 0 0 Va 0 0 i a a d a S o bl al li bt al th is w st se su cli su th tra di! rsembled and lifted by one person and therefore cannot be conveniently tached to objects for temporary purposes are not suitable for small scale limal transfer and location to location operation.

nown transfer ramps made from steel are either extremely heavy I portable r installed for permanent use in one location. There are many occasions here ramps must be operated by one person in which case it is desirable to ve the advantage of a manageable portable ramp which may be easily isembled and disassembled by one or two persons. Such ramps may be sassembled for transportation on a vehicle to another location for re sembly.

Many traders conduct yard sales of animals providing frequent rportunity for moving animals to and from vehicles and up and down :tween locations of different elevations. Examples of known animal ramps e disclosed in a number of United States patents.

United States Patent 6,267,082 discloses a sturdy, portable, relatively ;ht weight ramp provided for assisting an animal in inclined walking tween two different levels. The ramp comprises two relatively narrow gnable ramp secions which are centrally hinged and designed to cause eir edges adjacent the hinging to firmly abut and be interlocked. The ramp transportable in a compact first condition in which it is folded at the hinge th the undersides of the two sections in a parallel, back-to-back folded ite. When used to support an animal, it is unfolded and the two hinged :tions are aligned and finrly locked in an aligned second animalpporting condition. The hinge and locking interconnection have relatively )se tolerance so as to provide a stable linearly-extending ramp capable of porting heavy and light animals. For side-loading of railroad cars and gons, a large ramp or gangway is known to be hoisted into position for Sintended loading and unloading purposes. This is an example of a nsportable ramp which is complex in construction and has the advantages of the prior art ramps and particulady the treads.

2 COMS ID No: SBMI-04467105 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:35 Date 2006-08-15 15/08/2006 23:46 +61-2-95522894 WALSH AND ASSOCIATES PAGE 07/16 Va 0 0 ci 0 0 0 0 0 c-

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p a fi tc tr 10 di tr re tr se ac pi hE fr de pr w an el pl m re pa When using sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, station wagons, 'creational vehicles and various other automotive vehicles for transporting artable ramps it is desirable that the ramps be lightweight, simple to isemble and disassemble but without comprise to the requisite heavy duty mnctionality.

One piece ramps, are available having metal treads which are necessary resist animal slippage due to the slope of the ramp. The ramps with metal aads have formations on the upper surface to prevent slippage.

Other known ramps are constructed from side frame supports which fine a recess in which there are placed timber elements which provide sads for the ramps. Where timber elements are used, timber sections of ughly 100mm x 25mm will provide the necessary weight support. The :ads are assembled so that timer elements are alternately placed with every cond element bearing on its short dimension to as to be upstanding from jacent treads. This arrangement provides traction for animal hooves rticularly when the ramp is on a slope.

There are also known ramps of the permanent variety in existence which ve treads formed by concrete poured into a tread recess formed in a ramp tme.

Ramps having treads which are either metal such as steel, or timber as scribed above suffer from a number of disadvantages. Steel treads are one to rusting. Ramps with timber treads degrade from abrasion caused by :ar and weathering. Although hardwoods are employed, the weight of imals applies loads which gradually splinter the surface of the timber tments accelerating decay of the timber. Thus timber elements and steel ite used as tread materials have a finite life and they are also noisy.

While these various uses of ramps in various forms and using various terials have been well-known for a long time for large animals, there still nain ways to improve on the methods of construction employed and in ticular to the construction of the ramp tread.

3 COMS ID No: SBMI-04467105 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:35 Date 2006-08-15 15/08/2006 23:46 +61-2-95522894 UALSH AND ASSOCIATES PAGE 08/16 Va 0 0 ci 0 t-^ 0 0 0 0 c- ^0 0q Ul v! 5 lij li! di ar 10 iP It all be ce ne

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inc an Therefore, there is a need for an alternative to known tread assemblies Uised with animal ramps and particularly ramp assemblies of the portable iety and which remains convenient to assemble and disassemble, htweight and durable. There further exists a need for a relatively compact, ht-weight portable and sturdy animal ramp which can be assembled and mantled, and on which are placed discrete cement or concrete elements I which can be easily handled by one person.

NVENTION

.s therefore a principle objective of the present invention to provide an ,mative to the known portable light-weight animal ramp apparatus that can readily disassembled folded for transport and storage and which employs nent or concrete modules which co operate to form a tread surface with the .essary profiles to allow traction for animal hooves.

tother object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type cribed having a tread assembly which is long-lasting, durable and which 1 not rust or degrade through wear. Suitable materials will be reinforced aent or concrete.

1 another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the e described which includes inter engaging treads which are easily -mbled and disassembled without the necessary use of any tools.

I another object of the present invention is to provide a ramp apparatus of type described having a non-slip tread profile with upper stepped surface viding hoof traction for animals using the ramp.

Its broadest form the present invention comprises: nodule fbr use as a tread on a animal ramp assembly, of the type uding a frame providing support members for a ramp, the frame defining cess to receive ramp treads; 4 COMS ID No: SBMI-04467105 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:35 Date 2006-08-15 15/08/2006 23:46 +61-2-95522894 WALSH AND ASSOCIATES PAGE 09/16

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0 0 ci th c< Ul a w module comprising, a reinforced tread member manufactured from ncrete and reinforced with reinforcing steel; each said module having an per surface and a lower surface, first dimension which is substantially the same as the width of the ramp to ich the module is fitted and a econd dimension which is less than the first dimension; the reinforcing membes comprise steel mesh, wl di Pr fob of Ac an mt of wt Pro ad its ph mi Pn me Th duj col erein, the second dimension is within the range of 30% 60% of the first 3ension.

ferably, each said module includes on its upper surface at least one mation which extends therefrom and provides a restraint against slippage tooves of an animal using the ramp.

cording to one embodiment, each module is manufactured from concrete I reinforced with steel spanning across dimensions of width and length, the dule further comprising two spaced apart formations on the upper surface said module and which co operate to provide restraint against slippage ile an animal uses the ramp.

ferably, each module is proportioned to allow engagement with an acent module; wherein a first module has its first formation separated from second formation; wherein a first formation of an adjacent module is when :ed in said ramp, equidistant from the second formation of the first dule and the first formation of the second module.

ferably the low(T surface of the module is flat and engages support nbers of the ramp.

.efore, there is a need to provide a ramp element which is portable, able, resists wear, is economic to manufacture and which co operates with -esponding like elements.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04467105 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:35 Date 2006-08-15 15/08/2006 23:4G +61-2-95522894 WALSH AND ASSOCIATES PAGE 10/16 Va 0 0

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in at of It cc as d which may be stacked for transport and which may be used for transfer animals from a lower to higher or higher to lower elevation.

is another object of the present invention to provide a ramp tread which ntributes to the stability of portable ramps and which can be conveniently sembled and disassembled and easily transported.

B .IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES The present invention will now be described in more detail according to a pr ac

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01 a dr Re me ran pre mo 6c :ferred but ;ompanying OURE. 1 GURE 2 non limiting embodiment and with reference to the illustrations wherein; shows a perspective view of a portable module for an animal ramp according to a preferred embodiment.

shows a cross sectional view of a portable module of figure 1.

shows a perspective view of a series of portable modules of figure 1 engaging to form a ramp tread according to a preferred embodiment.

OURE 3 TAkILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIEN jects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from onsideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying twings.

erring to the Figure 1, there is shown a perspective view of a portable dule 1 according to a preferred embodiment for use on a portable stock ip. Module 1 comprises a body 2 formed from cement or concrete which is ferably reinforced with reinforcing rods 3. A preferred geometry for the ule is a flat underside surface 4 which opposes supporting members 5 and Sa ramp to which the module is fitted. Module 1 has an exposed upper 6 COMS ID No: SBMI-04467105 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:35 Date 2006-08-15 15/08/2006 23:46 +61-2-95522894 WALSH AND ASSOCIATES PAGE 11/16 Va 0 0 0

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Til pr sp Fl coy Fi 10 13 on co pne op) fitt an( arr to i tw( Th Foi sig At ant lim 6 Tyl a reir axi face 7 including formations 8 and 9 which extend upwardly from surface e module is preferably manufactured in a mould. Once a mould is ,pared, a concrete mix is poured over reinforcing rods 3 with the size an.d tcing determined according to loading and span parameters of each dule.

mare 2 shows a cross sectional view of a portable module of figure 1 with responding numbering.

;ure 3, there is shown a perspective view of a series of modules 11, 12 and according to a preferred embodiment for use in formation of a tread path a portable stock ramp. Each module includes formations which lectively create a bearing surface on which hoof loading is applied to vent slippage. Module 11 comprises a flat underside surface 14 which Poses supporting members 15 and 16 on a ramp to which the module is Module 11 has an exposed upper surface 17 including formations 18 S19 which extend upwardly from surface 17. The modules may be inged end to end and the formation arrangements will depend upon the end md engagement selected bearing in mind that the modules can be used in orientations.

module has numerous advantages over the prior art tread arrangements.

instance, use of a cementitious material dissipates noise levels which are lificantly higher on prior art steel and timber.

ipical module size which is largely dictated by the dimensions of the ramp also by the weight to retain portability preferably falls within the non iting range length 700 900mm) x width (500 900mm) x thickness The upper surface formations have a height dimension of 100mm lical weight range for a module will be in the order of 40 70kg. SL 102 is referred reinforcing mesh is used to reinforce each module. The forcing will span transversely across the module normal to a longitudinal Sof the ramp.

7 COMS ID No: SBMI-04467105 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:35 Date 2006-08-15 15/OB/2006 23:46 +61-2-95522894 WALSH AND ASSOCIATES PAGE 12/16

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st an fT wt Th lig all Th eni dis U2 for me dis Iti be( for T1 an w< all loa Th mo mo e ramp to which the module is fitted is preferably manufactured from el, alloy or aluminium. Ramps must be strong for loading heavy animals i for withstanding heavy duty operations. The ramp is typically constructed m a base of support, side rails and a ramped section which includes treads ich provide a walkway for an animal, e ramp with which the modular treads are used is preferably portable, itweight and disassembles into components which are proportioned to )w convenient manual lifting and which may be stacked for transport.

t modules are light enough to allow transportation on a light vehicle to ible the total assembly to be used easily and quickly, assembled and assembled and easily transported.

e of concrete treads overcomes the unwanted rusting when steel is used, t rot when timber is used and requires no maintenance. The modular tread Yr formed by reinforced concrete modules avoids animal slippage and sure ting for animals moving up and down the ramp. The formations which are ulded into the upper surface of the module are preferably transversely )osed so as to provide ridges which engages animal hooves.

3 to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have n illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific ns or arrangements of modules described and shown.

e assembly described above has a number of advantages over the prior art angements which include the following. Firstly, the modules have a self ight heavy enough to ensure stability under load but light enough to 3w single handed lifting. Further the module is able to sustain heavy ds.

e number of modules used will depend upon the length of the ramp. Half Jules may be used to gap spans less than or equal to half the length of each lule.

8 COMS ID No: SBMI-04467105 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:35 Date 2006-08-15 15/08/2006 23:46 +61-2-95522894 WALSH AND ASSOCIATES PAGE 13/16 0 It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations c and modification may be made to the invention broadly described herein with o t departing from the overall spirit and scope of the invention

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9 COMS ID No: SBMI-04467105 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:35 Date 2006-08-15