AU6542299A - A ramp assembly - Google Patents

Description

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P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 cc r

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARDPATENT

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Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): TRAMANCO PTY LTD Roger Philip SACK and Anthony Michael O'LEARY

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 7, Reserve Bank Building 102 Adelaide Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) A RAMP ASSEMBLY Australian Patent Application No. PP7878 filed 22 December 1998.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: i t 2 A RAMP ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a ramp assembly and in particular but not limited to a foldable ramp assembly suitable for enabling wheelchair access to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Present foldable ramps use complex arrangements for deployment of the ramp. Present arrangements are difficult and time consuming to deploy and are generally expensive to build and maintain.

10 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a foldable ramp assembly that is of relatively simple construction, easy to deploy and easy to return to its stored transport position.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION 15 In one aspect therefore the present invention resides in a foldable ramp assembly comprising a ramp member, a main support and a linkage assembly connecting the ramp member to the main support, the ramp member being adapted to swing between a generally upright stored transport position and an inclined deployed position, the linkage assembly connecting the ramp member to the main support for relative movement of the ramp member between the positions, the linkage assembly having biassing means adapted to enable safe manual deployment of the ramp member under the influence of the biassing means.

i 11 ft 3 Herein "safe manual deployment of the ramp member" means that an operator can manually manoeuvre the ramp member from its stored position to its deployed position with the linkage assembly assisting the operator so that under the influence of gravity the ramp member can be manoeuvred into the deployed position while the biassing means and the linkage assembly takes a portion of the load to assist the operator in deployment of the ramp.

When the ramp member is being returned to the storage position the biassing means operates in the reverse direction to again assist the operator in storing the ramp member in the storage position.

10 In another aspect therefore the invention resides in a manually operable o ramp assembly secured to a vehicle, the ramp assembly having components including a ramp member and biassing means, the ramp member being manually moveable from a stored transport position to an extended operative position, the biassing means urging the ramp member into a intermediate S 15 position between the transport and operative positions, the dimensions of the components, the resistance of the biassing means and the intermediate position being chosen relative to one another such that the ramp can be manually deployed under the aid of the biassing after initiation of the deployment and returned to the storage position under the aid of the biassing means after manual initiation of the return.

Preferably, the dimensions of the components, the resistance of the biassing means and the intermediate position are chosen relative to one another such that the ramp can be manually deployed under the aid of the biassing after 1, F I'l 4 initiation of the deployment and returned to the storage position under the aid of the biassing means after manual initiation of the return, the return tending to overshoot the intermediate position to further assist return of the ramp assembly to the stored transport position.

The ramp member preferably comprises two ramp sections. The two ramp sections are preferably pivotally coupled together and comprise a proximal ramp section nearest the main support and a distal ramp section remote from the main support when the ramp sections are deployed. A distal ramp section biassing means is preferably employed between the ramp sections to assist 10 deployment of the distal ramp section. The distal ramp section biassing means is preferably a gas spring configured to move "over centre" as the distal ramp section swings about its pivotal connection to the proximal ramp section. This preferably happens as the distal ramp section moves towards the intermediate position which in this case is about vertical such that the gas spring moves over 15 centre and causes the distal ramp section to be pushed through vertical as the ramp is being deployed. Again the reverse action occurs as the ramp is being returned to the stored transport position.

The proximal ramp section typically has a proximal edge leaving a gap between the proximal ramp section and a floor carrying the main support, there being provided a hinged bridge plate attached to the proximal edge and extending over onto the floor to provide a smooth transition between the ramp and floor.

J 1 I The linkage assembly preferably comprises main brackets rigidly secured to opposite sides of the ramp member, the main brackets each comprising a proximal pivot and a distal pivot connecting respective proximal and distal links between the main support and the brackets, the distal pivot being located generally in the plane of the ramp member and the proximal pivot being generally out of the plane of the ramp member, the biassing means being connected between the proximal link and the main bracket at a point on the main bracket between the distal and proximal pivots and generally in the plane of the ramp member.

10 The biassing means is typically an assembly of one or more coil springs, the linkage assembly and ramp construction being adapted to cause the ramp member to travel through an obtuse angle between the positions and to cause non-linear spring extension as the ramp moves between the positions with the largest proportion of spring extension occurring during the last 400 to 500 of travel 15 from the storage position to the deployed position.

The linkage assembly and gap between the proximal edge of the proximal ramp section is most preferably adapted to position the proximal edge at floor level when the ramp member is deployed. When applied to a vehicle the links effectively project the proximal ramp section outwardly and downwardly with an arrangement that returns to a stored position inside the vehicle.

1, 1 1 6 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein: Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a van equipped with a ramp assembly according to the present invention and showing the ramp assembly in its stored transport position; Figures 2 to 4 illustrate deployment of the ramp assembly with Figure 4 showing the ramp assembly in its deployed position; 10 Figures 4 and 5 show the process by which the ramp assembly is returned to the stored transport position of Figure 1; Figures 6 and 7 are part views illustrating the linkage assembly in the stored position and deployed positions; Figures 8 to 12 are side views illustrating deployment of the ramp 15 assembly showing the operation of the gas spring between respective ramp S: .sections and Figures 13 and 14 illustrate the movement of the linkage assembly through its travel and demonstrates the non-linear extension of the biassing springs.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 to 5 there is illustrated a ramp assembly 10 located in the rear of a van 11 with the rear door 12 of the van 11 shown open, the ramp assembly includes handles 13, 14 that can be li~l I, 7 gripped and pulled in the direction of arrow 15 by an operator as shown in Figures 2 and 3 so that the ramp is finally as deployed in Figure 4. A hinged bridge plate 40 extends from the ramp over to the floor of the vehicle. The hinged bridge plate 40 has been omitted from the other drawings for clarity of description.

The ramp assembly includes four additional handles at 16, 17, 18 and 19 with, as shown in Figure 4, the operator reaching down and gripping the handles 18 and 19 and lifting the ramp to return it to the stored position illustrated in Figure 1. The ramp assembly has two spring assist mechanisms, 9* 10 the first comprising part of a linkage assembly, one being employed on each side of the ramp assembly and shown generally at 20 and 21 and at least one gas spring shown generally at 22. There can be a gas spring on each side of the assembly. The objective of the springs in the assemblies 20, 21 and the gas springs 22 is to assist the operator to deploy and store the ramp assembly. The :i 15 linkage assemblies 20 and 21 prevent the ramp from swinging uncontrolled to *the deployed position and enable the operator to slowly, easily and gently lower S"the ramp to the deployed position as operator moves away from the van. As the ramp is being deployed the gas spring 22 moves overcentre and assists to align the two ramp sections.

The gas spring 22 and the linkage assemblies 20 and 21 operate in the reverse direction when the ramp is being stored to again assist the operator to store the ramp assembly.

8 Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 the linkage assemblies 20 and 21 will be described in greater detail. Only the linkage assembly relating to the right hand of the vehicle will be described it being understood that the other linkage assembly is of the same structure being utilised at the opposite side of the ramp assembly.

The following description is therefore replicated on the other side.

As can be see in Figures 6 and 7 the ramp assembly includes a main support in the form of a channel 23 and an upright support 24. The channel 23 has two pivots 25 and 26. A proximal link 27 extends from the pivot 26. A distal 9.

link 28 extends from the pivot 25. The links are connected to proximal ramp section 29 via a main bracket 30 at proximal pivot 31 and distal pivot 32 respectively. A biassing spring assembly 33 is pivotally connected to the proximal link 27 at 34 and to the main bracket 30 at 35. Three coil springs are :shown at 36 and these are clearly shown compressed in Figure 6 when the ramp sections 29 and 37 are in their stored positioned and extended when the ramp ,is deployed as shown in Figure 7.

Figures 8 to 12 illustrate deployment of the ramp and in particular reference is made to the gas spring 22. The gas spring 22 moves between positions of Figures 9 and 10 passing overcentre causing the ramp section 37 to be biassed outward in the direction of the arrow 38. When the ramp is being returned to the storage position the reverse effect will occur assisting the operator to return the ramp assembly to storage.

I~ i 9 It will be appreciated from the drawing Figures 8 to 12 that as the ramp assembly progresses to swing down to its deployed position and the distal ramp section 37 swings into position, that the moment will increase and consequently the load on the biassing means will increase non-linearly. The biassing means is chosen to take this into account.

The passage of the linkage assembly 21 is illustrated in Figures 13 and 14. Tabulated below is the angle and percentage extension of the springs as the ramp assembly moves from the stored position to the deployed position at H.

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Movement Angle springextension 10 A B 300 7% A-C 520 11% SA-D 630 18% A-E 780 21% A-F 840 23% 15 A-G 1100 53.5% A H 1220 57% S. S 5: As can be seen the ramp travels through an angle of approximately 1220 5giving rise to a total increase extension of the springs of 57%.

:Approximately 40% of the extension occurs in the last 300 of travel. This means that the springs do not resist to any large degree the initial movement of the ramp assembly from its stored position so the operator does not have to overcome any spring force but the linkage assembly is arranged in such a fashion that the springs come into action predominantly during the "falling" motion of the assembly as it moves through the last 300 to 400 of its motion.

Thus the ramp members can be safety lowered to the ground with ease.

Likewise, spring bias assists the operator in raising the ramp by providing the greatest bias at the initial lifting stage.

In order to avoid there being any significant step from the ramp onto the floor of the vehicle a gap is provided between the ramp and the floor of the vehicle, the links of the linkage assembly effectively projecting the proximal edge of the ramp outwardly and down to approximately floor level with the bridging plate forming a smooth transition between the ramp and vehicle.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to o: 10 those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the i aeni invention as herein set forth in the appended claims.

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Claims (17)

1. A foldable ramp assembly comprising a ramp member, a main support and a linkage assembly connecting the ramp member to the main support, the ramp member being adapted to swing between a generally upright stored transport position and an inclined deployed position, the linkage assembly connecting the ramp member to the main support for relative movement of the ramp member between the positions, the linkage assembly having biassing means adapted to enable safe manual deployment of the ramp member by an operator under the influence of the biassing means. 10

2. A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ramp assembly is configured such that as the ramp member is being returned to the storage position the biassing means operates in the reverse direction to again assist the operator in storing the ramp member in the storage position.

3. A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ramp member 15 is manually moveable from the stored transport position to the extended deployed position, the biassing means urging the ramp member into a intermediate position between the transport and operative positions, the dimensions of the components, the resistance of the biassing means and the intermediate position being chosen relative to one another such that the ramp can be manually deployed under the aid of the biassing means after initiation of the deployment and returned to the storage position under the aid of the biassing means after manual initiation of the return. 11 12

4. A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ramp member comprises two ramp sections, the two ramp sections being pivotally coupled together and comprise a proximal ramp section nearest the main support and a distal ramp section remote from the main support when the ramp sections are deployed, the biassing means including a distal ramp section biassing means employed between the ramp sections to assist deployment of the distal ramp section the distal ramp section biassing means being having a pivotal lever configured to move over centre as the distal ramp section swings about its pivotal connection to the proximal ramp section, as the distal ramp section 10 moves towards an intermediate position between the transport and deployed positions and causes the distal ramp section to be pushed through the intermediate position as the ramp is being deployed.

5. A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ramp member comprises two ramp sections, the two ramp sections being pivotally coupled together and comprise a proximal ramp section nearest the main support and a distal ramp section remote from the main support when the ramp sections are S•deployed, the biassing means including a distal ramp section biassing means employed between the ramp sections to assist deployment of the distal ramp section the distal ramp section biassing means being having a pivotal lever configured to move over centre as the distal ramp section swings about its pivotal connection to the proximal ramp section, as the distal ramp section moves towards an intermediate position between the transport and deployed positions and causes the distal ramp section to be pushed through the 13 intermediate position as the ramp is being deployed, the proximal ramp section having a proximal edge leaving a gap between the proximal ramp section and a floor adjacent the main support, there being provided a hinged bridge plate attached to the proximal edge and extending over onto the floor to provide a smooth transition between the ramp and floor.

6. A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the linkage assembly comprises main brackets rigidly secured to opposite sides of the ramp member, the main brackets each comprising a proximal pivot and a distal pivot connecting respective proximal and distal links between the main support and 10 the brackets, the distal pivot being located generally in the plane of the ramp member and the proximal pivot being generally out of the plane of the ramp 9•go member, the biassing means being connected between the proximal link and the main bracket at a point on the main bracket between the distal and proximal pivots and generally in the plane of the ramp member.

7. A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the biassing i :means is an assembly of one or more coil springs, the linkage assembly and S"ramp and biassing means being adapted to cause the ramp member to travel through an obtuse angle between the transport and deployed positions and to cause non-linear spring extension as the ramp moves between the positions with the largest proportion of spring extension occurring during the last 400 to 500 of travel from the storage position to the deployed position.

8. A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the biassing means is an assembly of one or more coil springs, the linkage assembly and 14 ramp being adapted to cause the ramp member to travel through an obtuse angle between the positions and to cause non-linear spring extension as the ramp moves between the positions, the angle and percentage extension of the springs as the ramp assembly moves from the stored position at A to the deployed position at H being in accordance with the following table: Movement Angle %spring-eoensjo A-B 300 7% A-C 520 11% A-D 630 18% 10 A-E 780 21% S A-F 840 23% O A-G 1100 53.5% g.os A H 1220 57% S 15

9. A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ramp assembly is part of a vehicle and includes a proximal ramp section having a 6O C proximal edge, the ramp assembly being stored inside the vehicle and being t adapted to extend out through an opening in the vehicle, the linkages projecting S. i 6the proximal edge of the proximal ramp section of said ramp assembly outwardly 20 and downwardly as the ramp assembly is employed with an arrangement that returns the ramp assembly to the stored position wholly inside the vehicle.

A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ramp member comprises two ramp sections, the two ramp sections being pivotally coupled together and comprise a proximal ramp section nearest the main support and a distal ramp section remote from the main support when the ramp sections are deployed, the biassing means including a distal ramp section biassing means employed between the ramp sections to assist deployment of the distal ramp section the distal ramp section biassing means being having a pivotal lever configured to move over centre as the distal ramp section swings about its pivotal connection to the proximal ramp section, as the distal ramp section moves towards an intermediate position between the transport and deployed positions and causes the distal ramp section to be pushed through the intermediate position as the ramp is being deployed, the biassing means being an assembly of one or more coil springs, the linkage assembly and ramp being adapted to cause the ramp member to travel through an obtuse angle between ~*the positions and to cause non-linear spring extension as the ramp moves 10 between the positions, the angle and percentage extension of the springs as the ramp assembly moves from the stored position at A to the deployed position at H being in accordance with the following table: IMovement Ange spring exte-sion A-B 300 7% A-C 520 11% A-D 630 18% .i A-E 780 21% A-F 840 23% A-G 1100 53.5% A H 1220 57%

11. A foldable ramp assembly according to claim 1 wherein the biassing means employs coil springs that extend as the ramp is deployed with approximately 40% of the extension occurring in the last 300 of travel.

12. A manually operable ramp assembly secured to a vehicle, the ramp assembly having components including a ramp member and biassing means, the ramp member being manually moveable from a stored transport position to 16 an extended operative position, the biassing means urging the ramp member into a intermediate position between the transport and operative positions, the dimensions of the components, the resistance of the biassing means and the intermediate position being chosen relative to one another such that the ramp can be manually deployed under the aid of the biassing after initiation of the deployment and returned to the storage position under the aid of the biassing Su means after manual initiation of the return.

13. A ramp assembly according to claim 12 wherein the dimensions of the -components, the resistance of the biassing means and the intermediate position S* 10 are chosen relative to one another such that the ramp can be manually deployed under the aid of the biassing after initiation of the deployment and returned to the storage position under the aid of the biassing means after manual initiation of the return, the return tending to overshoot the intermediate position to further assist return of the ramp assembly to the stored transport position. o 15

14. A ramp assembly according to claim 12 wherein the biassing means employs coil springs that extend as the ramp is deployed with approximately of the extension occurring in the last 300 of travel.

A ramp assembly according to claim 12 wherein the ramp member comprises two ramp sections, the two ramp sections being pivotally coupled together and comprise a proximal ramp section nearest the main support and a distal ramp section remote from the main support when the ramp sections are deployed, the biassing means including a distal ramp section biassing means employed between the ramp sections to assist deployment of the distal ramp section the distal ramp section biassing means being having a pivotal lever configured to move over centre as the distal ramp section swings about its pivotal connection to the proximal ramp section, as the distal ramp section moves towards an intermediate position between the transport and deployed positions and causes the distal ramp section to be pushed through the intermediate position as the ramp is being deployed.

16. A ramp assembly according to claim 12 wherein the biassing means is an assembly of one or more coil springs, the linkage assembly and ramp being adapted to cause the ramp member to travel through an obtuse angle between 10 the positions and to cause non-linear spring extension as the ramp moves between the positions, the angle and percentage extension of the springs as the ramp assembly moves from the stored position at A to the deployed position at S"H being in accordance with the following table: Movement Angle spring extensison A B 300 7% A-C 520 11% A-D 630 18% A-E 780 21% A-F 840 23% A-G 1100 53.5% A-H 1220 57%

17. A ramp assembly substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this TWENTY-SECOND day of DECEMBER 1999 TRAMANCO PTY LTD by their Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO