AU2011202303A1 - Vehicle ladder - Google Patents

Abstract

VEHICLE LADDER A vehicle ladder includes two main traction panels (2) and at least one coupling member (3) . Each of the main traction panels (2) includes a main elongate body (21) andatleastone tractionrib (22).Themainelongate body (21) has two end portions and includes a guiding ramp (213) and a through slot (211) respectively located at the two end portions of the main elongate body (21). The traction rib (22) is formed with teeth-shaped tractionmembers (222). The couplingmember (3) couples removably the main elongate bodies (21) of the main traction panels (2) at the through slots (211) of the main elongate bodies (21) so that the main traction panels (2) are pivotable and foldable relative to each other. (Fig. 2) COo C) cl Q riQ Q ) 0cq CO 2 )0 C3c r- NQ C cq l 0 0a 6L ri C ( i

Description

Pool Seclion 29 Regulation 3.2(2)) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: invention Title: Vehicle ladder The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P111AAAU/0610 1 VEHICLE LADDER The invention relates to a vehicle ladder, more particularly to a vehicle ladder for extricating a vehicle from mud, snow, and the like. 5 Referring to Figure 1, WO 2007041802 Al discloses a vehicle ladder 1, which includes a pair of strengthening ribs 11 extending parallel along a longitudinal direction, a recessed portion 12 defined between the strengthening ribs 11, two skirts 13 10 respectively running along the outside of the strengthening ribs 11, two ramps 14 located at two longitudinally opposite end portions of the vehicle ladder 1, and apluralityoftractionmembers 15 disposed on the recessed portion 12 and the skirts 13. Each of 15 the traction members 15 includes a frustoconical body 151 and a tread engaging member 152 disposed on top of the frustoconical body 151. Although a vehicle stuck in mud, snow, and the like can be extricated therefrom via the ramps 14 and the 20 traction members 15, the vehicle ladder 1 should be provided with a sufficient length and a satisfactory traction strength with the ground. Otherwise, it would be difficult to effectively extricate the vehicle from the mud, snow, and the like. Since a sufficient length 25 is required for the vehicle ladder 1, a relatively large space is required in a stowage area for storing the vehicle ladder 1, which is not foldable.

2 Furthermore, the mud, snow, and the like in front of the stuck wheel should be cleared before using the vehicle ladder 1 for extricating the vehicle. Since the vehicle ladder 1 cannot be used for clearing the mud, 5 snow, andthelike, anadditional device, suchasa shovel, is required. Therefore, the vehicle ladder 1 is relatively inconvenient to use. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle ladder which is foldable so that a relatively 10 small storage space in a stowage area of a vehicle is required, and which can be used as a clearing tool prior to extricating the vehicle from mud, snow, and the like. Thevehicle ladderaccording tothe presentinvention includes two main traction panels and at least one 15 coupling member. Each of the main traction panels includes a main elongate body that extends along a longitudinal direction, and at least one traction rib protruding downward from the main elongate body and extending across the main elongate body in an extension 20 direction non-parallel to the longitudinal direction. The main elongate body has two end portions opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction and includes a guiding ramp and a through slot respectively located at the two end portions of the main elongate body. The 25 traction rib is formed with teeth-shaped traction members. The coupling member couples removably the main elongate bodies of the main traction panels at the 3 through slots of the main elongate bodies so that the main tractionpanels are pivotable andfoldable relative to each other. Other features and advantages of the present 5 inventionwill become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional vehicle ladder; 10 Figure 2 is a top view of a first preferred embodiment of a vehicle ladder according to this invention; Figure 3 is a fragmentary exploded side view of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 4 is a bottom view of a main traction panel 15 included in the first preferred embodiment; Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of the main traction panel; Figure 6isafragmentarysectionalviewillustrating the first preferred embodiment in a folded state; 20 Figure 7 is aschematicperspectiveviewillustrating the first preferred embodiment in a state of use; Figure B is a top view of a second preferred embodiment of a vehicle ladder according to this invention; and Figure 9 is a fragmentary bottom view of the second 25 preferred embodiment. Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, the first preferred embodiment of a vehicle ladder according to this 4 invention is shown to be adapted for extricating a wheel 9 of a vehicle stuck in mud, snow, and the like and for use as a clearing tool, such as a shovel. The vehicle ladder includes two main traction panels 2 and a coupling 5 member 3. Each of the main traction panels 2 includes a main elongate body 21 that extends along a longitudinal direction 8, and a plurality of traction ribs 22 protruding downward from the main elongate body 21 and extending across the main elongate body 21 in an 10 extension direction non-parallel to the longitudinal direction 8. The main elongate body 21 has two end portions opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction 8 and includes a guiding ramp 213 and a through slot 211 respectively located at the two end portions 15 of the main elongate body 21. The guiding ramp 213 has a curved edge 216 that configures the guiding ramp 213 with a width that is gradually reduced in the longitudinal direction 8 away from the through slot 211. The thickness of the guiding ramp 213 is gradually 20 reducedinthelongitudinaldirection8 toward thecurved edge 216. The main elongate body 21 further includes a shaft 212 located outside of the through slot 211. The main elongate body 21 of each of the main traction panels 2 further has two opposite edge portions that 25 extendbetween the two endportions. Each of the opposite edge portions is formed with a gripping hole 214. Additionally, the main elongate body 21 of each of the 5 main traction panels 2 has a top side that is indented to form a plurality of recess portions 215 distributed between the guiding ramp 213 and the through slot 211. The recess portions 215 are inclined recess portions 5 that have a substantially V-shaped configuration, and that are arranged in an array of rows and ranks. Each of the recess portions 215 has a pointed edge oriented toward the guiding ramp 213. Referring to Figures 2, 4, and 5, the traction ribs 10 22 are configured for preventing the vehicle ladder from slipping relative to the ground. Preferably, the extensiondirectionofthe tractionribs22istransverse to the longitudinal direction 8. Each of the traction ribs 22 is formed with teeth-shaped traction members 15 222. The teeth-shaped traction members 222 of one of the traction ribs 22 are staggered relative to those of an adjacent one of the traction ribs 22, as best shown in Figure 4. Each of the main traction panels 2 further includes 20 apluralityoffirsttreadengagingmembers23protruding upward from the main elongate body 21 and a plurality of second tread engaging members 24 protruding upward from the main elongate body 21 and alternately arranged with and spaced apart from the first tread engaging 25 members 23. Each of the first and second tread engaging members23, 2 4 has asubstantially rhombicconfiguration. The first tread engaging members 23 are configured to 6 have a first orientation 231 with respect to the longitudinal direction 8. The second tread engaging members 24 are configured to have a second orientation 241 with respect to the longitudinal direction 8 and 5 different from the first orientation 231. The first and second tread engagingmembers 23, 24 cooperate with each other to define a plurality of tread engaging spaces 25. Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 6, the coupling member 10 3 has a substantially C-shaped configuration, and couples removably the main elongate bodies 21 of the main traction panels 2 at the through slots 211 of the main elongate bodies 21 so that the main traction panels 2 are pivotable and foldable relative to each other. 15 The coupling member 3 includes a coupling body 31 having two ends 311 defining an opening 32. The coupling body 31 of the coupling member 3 surrounds the shafts 212 of the main elongate bodies 21 when the coupling member 3 couples the main elongate bodies 21 of the main traction 20 panels 2. Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, when the vehicle ladder of the present invention is used for extricating the wheel 9 stuck in the mud, snow, and the like, the guiding ramp 213 of one of the main traction panels 2 25 is inserted into an area under the stuck wheel 9, and the vehicle is driven forward. When the vehicle rides on one of the main traction panels 2, the teeth-shaped 7 tractionmembers 222 of the traction ribs 22 are inserted into the mud, snow, and the like due to the weight of the vehicle. Therefore, the traction strength between the vehicle ladder and the mud, snow, and the like can 5 be enhanced so as to prevent the vehicle ladder from slipping relative to the wheel 9. When the vehicle rides on the vehicle ladder, the tread of the wheel 9 can be engaged firmly to the vehicle ladder by the aforesaid specific configuration of the 10 first and second tread engaging members 23, 24 so that the stuck wheel 9 can be effectively extricated from the mud, snow, and the like. Referring to Figure 6, since themain traction panels 2 are foldable relative to each other, a relatively small 15 storage space in a stowage area of a vehicle is required for the vehicle ladder of the present invention. Referring to Figure 7, the main traction panel 2 is provided with the gripping hole 214 and the guiding ramp 213. Therefore, when the coupling member 3 is removed, 20 one ofthemain tractionpanels2 canbe usedasa clearing tool for clearing the mud, snow, and the like prior to extricating the vehicle. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, compared to the first preferred embodiment, the second preferred embodiment 25 of a vehicle ladder according to this invention is shown to further include a secondary traction panel 4. Furthermore, the second preferred embodiment includes 8 two of the coupling members 3. The secondary traction panel 4 is disposed between the two main traction panels 2, and includes a secondary elongate body 41 having two end portions respectively 5 provided with a through slot 411. One of the coupling members 3 couples removably the main elongate body 21 of one of the main traction panels 2 and the secondary elongate body 41 of the secondary traction panel 4 at the through slot 211 of the main 10 elongate body 21 of the one of the main traction panels 2 and the through slot 411 at one of the end portions of the secondary elongate body 41 of the secondary traction panel 4 so that the one of the main traction panels 2 is pivotable and foldable relative to the 15 secondary traction panel 4. Another one of the coupling members 3 couples removably the main elongate body 21 of the other one of the main traction panels 2 and the secondary elongate body 41 of the secondary traction panel 4 at the through 20 slot 211 of the main elongate body 21 of the other one of the main traction panels 2 and the through slot 411 at the other one of the end portions of the secondary elongate body 41 of the secondary traction panel 4 so that the other one of the main traction panels 2 is 25 pivotable and foldable relative to the secondary traction panel 4. The secondary traction panel 4 further includes a 9 plurality of traction ribs 42 protruding downward from the secondary elongate body 41 and extending across the secondary elongate body 41 in an extension direction non-parallel to, preferably transverse to, the 5 longitudinal direction 8. Each of the traction ribs 42 of the secondary traction panel 4 has a configuration identical to the traction ribs 22 of the main traction panels 2. The secondary traction panel 4 further includes a 10 plurality of first tread engaging members 43 protruding upward from the secondary elongate body 41 and a pluralityofsecond treadengagingmembers 44protruding upward from the secondary elongate body 41 and spaced apart fromthe first treadengagingmembers 43. The first 15 treadengagingmembers43ofthe secondary tractionpanel 4 are configured in a manner identical to the first tread engaging members 23 of the main traction panels 4, and the second tread engaging members 44 of the secondary traction panel 4 are configured in a manner identical 20 to the second tread engaging members 24 of the main traction panels 4. The secondary elongate body 41 of the secondary traction panel 4 has a top side that is indented to form a plurality of recess portions 415 distributed between 25 the through slots 411. The recess portions 415 are inclined recess portions that are arranged in an array of rows and ranks, and are configured in a manner 10 identical to the recess portions 2 15 ofthemainelongate body 21. For the purpose of this specification, it will be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means 5 "including but not limited to," and that the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms 0 a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Claims (12)

1. A vehicle ladder comprising.: two main traction panels each including a main elongate body that extends along a longitudinal 5 direction, and at least one traction rib protruding downward from said main elongate body and extending across saidmain elongate body in an extension direction non-parallel to the longitudinal direction, said main elongate body having two end portions opposite to each 10 other in the longitudinal direction and including a guiding ramp and a through slot respectively located at said two end portions of said main elongate body, said traction rib being formed with teeth-shaped traction members; and 15 at least one coupling member coupling removably said main elongate bodies of said main traction panels at said through slots of said main elongate bodies so that said main traction panels are pivotable and foldable relative to each other. 20

2. The vehicle ladder as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising: at least one secondary traction panel disposed between said two main traction panels and including a secondary elongate body having two end portions 25 respectively provided with a through slot, said vehicle ladder including at least two of said coupling member, 12 one of said coupling members coupling removably said main elongate body of one of said main traction panels and said secondary elongate body of said secondary traction panel at said through slot of saidmain elongate 5 body of said one of said main traction panels and said through slot at one of said end portions of said secondary elongate body of said secondary traction panel so that said one of said main traction panels is pivotable and foldable relative to said secondary traction panel, 0 another one of said coupling members coupling removably said main elongate body of the other one of said main traction panels and said secondary elongate body of said secondary traction panel at said through slot of said main elongate body of said other one of 5 said main traction panels and said through slot at the other one of said endportions of said secondaryelongate body of said secondary traction panel so that said other one of said main traction panels is pivotable and foldable relative to said secondary traction panel. 0

3. The vehicle ladder as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said secondary traction panel further includes at least one traction ribprotrudingdownward fromsaidsecondary elongate body and extending across said secondary elongate body in an extension direction non-parallel 5 to the longitudinal direction.

4. The vehicle ladder as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each of said main and secondary traction panels further 13 includes a plurality of first tread engaging members protruding upward from a corresponding one of said main and secondary elongate bodies and a plurality of second tread engaging members protruding upward from a S corresponding one of said main and secondary elongate bodies and spaced apart from said first tread engaging members, said first tread engaging members being configured to have a first orientation with respect to the longitudinal direction, said second tread engaging 10 members being configured to have a second orientation with respect to the longitudinal direction and different from the first orientation.

5. The vehicle ladder as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each of said main traction panels further includes a 15 plurality of first tread engaging members protruding upward from said main elongate body and a plurality of second tread engaging members protruding upward from said main elongate body and spaced apart from said first tread engaging members, said first tread engaging 20 members being configured to have a first orientation with respect to the longitudinal direction, said second tread engagingmembers being configured to have a second orientation with respect to the longitudinal direction and different from the first orientation. 25

6. The vehicle ladder as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said main elongate body of each of said main traction panels furtherhas at least one edge portion that extends 14 between said two end portions and that is formed with a gripping hole.

7. The vehicle ladder as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said guiding ramp has a curved edge that configures said 5 guiding ramp with a width that is gradually reduced in the longitudinal direction away from said through slot.

8. ThevehicleladderasclaimedinanyofClaiml, wherein said main elongate body of each of said main traction panels has a top side that is indented to form a plurality 0 ofrecessportionsdistributedbetween saidguidingramp and said through slot.

9. The vehicle ladder as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said recess portions are inclined recess portions that are arranged in an array of rows and ranks. 5

10. The vehicle ladder as claimed in any of Claim 2, wherein said main elongate body of each of said main traction panels has a top side that is indented to form a plurality of recess portions distributed between said guiding ramp and said through slot of said main elongate 0 body, and wherein said secondary elongate body of said secondary traction panel has a top side that is indented to form a plurality of said recess portions distributed between said through slots of said secondary elongate body. 5

11. The vehicle ladder as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said recess portions are inclined recess portions that are arranged in an array of rows and ranks. 15

12. A vehicle ladder substantially as hereinbefore describedwithreference toandasillustratedin Figures 2 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.