EP3816391A1 - Safety stepladder with enhanced safety gate - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety stepladder (1) comprising: - two parallel uprights (6) joined by cross members (7) to define a climbing plane (5); - two support legs (9), each articulated in upper part of one of the uprights (6) to occupy a storage position against the uprights (6), or a stabilizing position separated from the uprights (6); - a platform (2) articulated between the two uprights (6) and the two supporting legs (9) and folding between a horizontal use position when the legs (9) are in the stabilizing position, and a folded position against the climb plane (5) when the legs (9) are in the storage position; - a guardrail (3) articulated at the top of the climb plane (5) and able to adopt, under the action of first and second control bars (11, 12), a folded position against the climb plane (5) or a horizontal safety position. According to the invention, the first control bar (11) receives a gate ( 4) hinged to open inwards towards the guardrail (3) against an elastic return member (15) of the guardrail (3) in the closed position against the second control bar (12) which then acts as a fixed battue.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the technical field of climbing equipment with a platform, guardrail and folding gate, and more particularly relates to a safety stepladder, the safety of which is provided by the access gate is optimized.

PRIOR ART

• deux montants parallèles réunis par des traverses pour définir un plan de montée ;
• deux jambes d'appui, chacune articulée en partie supérieure de l'un des montants pour occuper une position de rangement contre les montants, ou une position de stabilisation écartée des montants ;
• une plateforme articulée entre les deux montants et les deux jambes d'appui et rabattable entre une position d'utilisation horizontale lorsque les jambes sont en position de stabilisation, et une position rabattue contre le plan de montée lorsque les jambes sont en position de rangement ;
• un garde-corps articulé au sommet du plan de montée et apte à adopter, sous l'action de première et deuxième barres de commande, une position rabattue contre le plan de montée ou une position de sécurité horizontale.

It is known from the state of the art, a stepladder comprising:

• two parallel uprights joined by cross members to define a climb plane;
• two support legs, each articulated in the upper part of one of the uprights to occupy a storage position against the uprights, or a stabilization position separated from the uprights;
• a platform articulated between the two uprights and the two support legs and folding between a horizontal position of use when the legs are in the stabilizing position, and a folded position against the climb plane when the legs are in the storage position;
• a guardrail articulated at the top of the climb plane and able to adopt, under the action of first and second control bars, a position folded against the climb plane or a horizontal safety position.

Such a stepladder is usually designed to perform work at heights between 2.5 and 4 meters.

This type of stepladder is for example described in the French patent FR 3 027 942 , on behalf of the Applicant. According to this French patent, each control bar of the guardrail is independent of the platform and its lower end is articulated against the internal face of the corresponding upright. In addition, each of the control rods carries hinge bearings of one wicket extending transversely in the direction of the wicket of the other control bar.

Thanks to this arrangement, the platform is independent of the guardrail and is insensitive to the forces received by the latter and, in particular, to the exceptional forces resulting from excessive support by the user on the cross bar or on the gates associated with the guard. -body. In addition, when the force is communicated to the gates, it is transmitted by the control rods directly to the uprights, therefore without undergoing an increase in its value, as is the case with stepladders with hinged gates on the connecting rods. a parallelogram for example. As a result, the profiles of the uprights do not need to be thickened to withstand the force.

Although giving complete satisfaction, these stepladders can still be improved, particularly in terms of kinematics and safety provided by the gate.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is therefore to provide a folding stepladder with guardrail and safety and wicket, and the safety of which provided by the wicket has been reinforced.

Another objective of the invention is to provide such a stepladder whose deployment kinematics are simple, safe and rapid.

Another objective of the invention is to provide such a height-adjustable stepladder, the stability of which is improved.

• deux montants parallèles réunis par des traverses pour définir un plan de montée ;
• deux jambes d'appui, chacune articulée en partie supérieure de l'un des montants pour occuper une position de rangement contre les montants, ou une position de stabilisation écartée des montants ;
• une plateforme articulée entre les deux montants et les deux jambes d'appui et rabattable entre une position d'utilisation horizontale lorsque les jambes sont en position de stabilisation, et une position rabattue contre le plan de montée lorsque les jambes sont en position de rangement ;
• un garde-corps articulé au sommet du plan de montée et apte à adopter, sous l'action de première et deuxième barres de commande, une position rabattue contre le plan de montée ou une position de sécurité horizontale.

To this end, a stepladder has been developed in accordance with that of the state of the art in that it comprises:

• two parallel uprights joined by cross members to define a climb plane;
• two support legs, each articulated in the upper part of one of the uprights to occupy a storage position against the uprights, or a stabilization position separated from the uprights;
• a platform articulated between the two uprights and the two support legs and folding between a horizontal position of use when the legs are in the stabilizing position, and a folded position against the climb plane when the legs are in the storage position;
• a guardrail articulated at the top of the climb plane and able to adopt, under the action of first and second control bars, a position folded against the climb plane or a horizontal safety position.

According to the invention, the first control bar receives a hinged gate to open inward towards the guardrail against an elastic return member of the guardrail in the closed position against the second bar. control which then itself directly acts as a fixed battue.

Thus, the invention provides a stepladder, the installation of the gate of which is automatic, and the safety of which is optimized because the gate opens from the inside and is kept pressed against the fixed battue in the closed position, formed directly by the gate. second control bar, without insert.

Thus, in the event of discomfort, for example, of a user present on the platform, his fall is avoided because the support from the inside against the gate is firmly held by the fixed battue, and does not risk accidentally forcing the opening. from the gate to the outside.

According to a particular embodiment, the second control bar is rectilinear and has an intermediate portion curved in the direction of the first control bar to form the battue as such.

Advantageously, the first and second control bars are, in the upper part, articulated to the guardrail and are, in the lower part, mounted to slide in two guide sleeves mounted to pivot relative to the uprights to pass the guardrail in the folded position or in the safety position. In this way, the deployment kinematics are simple, safe and fast.

Advantageously, in this embodiment, the first and second control rods each comprise retractable pins for locking the folded-down and safety positions of the guardrail, the pins being able to penetrate, during the sliding of the control rods, in Complementary orifices made in the guide sleeves.

Preferably, and to increase the maximum working height with the stepladder according to the invention, or to use it on non-horizontal ground, each upright and each supporting leg comprises a lower telescopic part, the telescopic parts of the uprights being interconnected by secondary cross members forming steps.

According to a particular embodiment, the support legs and possibly the telescopic parts of the support legs are connected to one another by reinforcing cross members.

According to a particular embodiment, the telescopic parts comprise locking latches able to engage in orifices made in the uprights and in the support legs during the sliding of the telescopic parts.

Preferably, the lower ends of the telescoping parts are inclined and move away from each other to improve the stability of the stepladder.

Advantageously, the lower ends of the telescopic parts of the uprights, or possibly the lower ends of the uprights in the absence of telescopic parts, each comprise a stabilizing foot articulated to pivot for example by about 180 ° around an axis parallel to the uprights, to go from a deployed position in contact with the ground, enhancing the stability of the stepladder, to a folded position against the climb plane to prevent access.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• [Fig. 1] la figure 1 est une vue en perspective de l'escabeau selon l'invention en position déployée d'utilisation, le garde-corps et le portillon étant également en position déployée de sécurité.
• [Fig. 2] la figure 2 est une vue en perspective illustrant le garde-corps et le portillon en position rabattue de rangement.
• [Fig. 3] la figure 3 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 2, le garde-corps et le portillon en position de sécurité.
• [Fig. 4] la figure 4 est une vue de face illustrant le portillon en position fermée.
• [Fig. 5] la figure 5 est une vue en perspective illustrant le portillon en position ouverte.
• [Fig. 6] la figure 6 est une vue de détail en perspective de l'organe élastique de rappel du garde-corps en position fermée.
• [Fig. 7] la figure 7 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1, les montants et les jambes d'appui comprenant des parties télescopiques reliées par des traverses, et illustrant la mise en place de pieds stabilisateurs.
• [Fig. 8] la figure 8 est une vue de détail en perspective des loquets de verrouillage des parties télescopiques.
• [Fig. 9] la figure 9 illustre en perspective les pieds stabilisateurs visibles sur la figure 7, en position repliée.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge better from the description which will follow, given by way of nonlimiting example, of the stepladder according to the invention, from the appended drawings in which:

• [ Fig. 1 ] the figure 1 is a perspective view of the stepladder according to the invention in the deployed position of use, the guardrail and the gate also being in the deployed safety position.
• [ Fig. 2 ] the figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the guardrail and the gate in the folded storage position.
• [ Fig. 3 ] the figure 3 is a view similar to that of the figure 2 , the guardrail and the gate in the safety position.
• [ Fig. 4 ] the figure 4 is a front view illustrating the gate in the closed position.
• [ Fig. 5 ] the figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the gate in the open position.
• [ Fig. 6 ] the figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of the elastic return member of the guardrail in the closed position.
• [ Fig. 7 ] the figure 7 is a view similar to that of the figure 1 , the uprights and the supporting legs comprising telescopic parts connected by crossbars, and illustrating the installation of stabilizing feet.
• [ Fig. 8 ] the figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the locking latches of the telescopic parts.
• [ Fig. 9 ] the figure 9 illustrates in perspective the stabilizing feet visible on the figure 7 , in folded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to figures 1 to 9 , the invention relates to a stepladder (1) with a folding platform (2), guardrail (3) and gate (4).

With reference to the figure 1 , and in a known manner, the stepladder (1) comprises a rising plane (5), composed of two parallel uprights (6) joined by cross members (7) forming steps, and by an upper bar (8) for the articulation of the platform (2).

The stepladder (1) comprises two supporting legs (9) parallel and connected transversely by reinforcing crossbars (10). The upper reinforcing cross member (10) of the support legs (9) allows for example the support of the platform (2) in the deployed position of the stepladder (1).

Each support leg (9) is articulated at the top of one of the uprights (6) in order to be able to occupy a storage position close to the uprights (6), or a stabilization position separated from said uprights (6).

The stepladder (1) comprises a U-shaped folding handrail (3), the side branches of which are articulated, preferably at their ends, to first and second control bars (11, 12) making it possible to deploy the guardrail (3) in the safety position and to fold it down in the storage position.

More precisely, these first and second control bars (11, 12) are parallel and are, in the upper part, articulated to the guardrail (3). In the lower part, the first and second control rods (11, 12) are slidably mounted in two guide sleeves (13) mounted to pivot relative to the uprights (6). In this way, the sliding of the first and second control bars (11, 12) in the guide sleeves (13) makes it possible to pass the guardrail (3) in the folded position or in the safety position. In the folded storage position and with reference to the figure 2 , the guardrail (3) and the control rods (11, 12) are folded against the uprights (6).

With reference to the figure 3 , and in order to lock the folded and safety positions of the guardrail (3), the first and second control bars (11, 12) each comprise retractable pins (14) able to penetrate, during the sliding of the control bars (11, 12), in complementary orifices made in the guide sleeves (13).

In order to ensure safety for a user present on the platform (2), the first control bar (11) receives a wicket (4) hinged to open inwards towards the guardrail (3). With reference to the figure 6 , the opening of the guardrail (3) takes place against an elastic return member (15) which tends to push the guardrail (3) in the closed position against the second control bar (12 ) which then acts as a fixed beat.

With reference to figures 4 and 5 , the gate (4) is made in one piece from a tubular frame, the two ends of which are connected to the first control bar (11) in a pivoting manner and around a vertical axis. The general shape of the gate (4), given by the tubular frame is substantially square, the lower side of which rises in the direction of the center before starting again horizontally to articulate with the first control bar (11). This configuration of the gate (4) ensures optimum rigidity. The elastic return member (15) is of any suitable type and is for example in the form of a spring of the clothespin spring type mounted around the pivot axis of the gate (4) and one branch of the spring of which pushes the gate (4) back into the closed position against the second control bar (12), see figure 6 .

The battue is carried out in any suitable manner, such as by an insert attached to the second control bar (12). Preferably, the second control bar (12) is rectilinear and has, for example, a curved intermediate portion (16) towards the first control bar (11) to form the battue as such.

Thus, the invention provides a stepladder (1) whose installation of the gate (4) is automatic, and whose safety is optimized because the gate (4) opens from the inside and is kept pressed against the battue. fixed in closed position.

Thus, in the event for example of discomfort of a user present on the platform (2), his fall is avoided because the support from the inside against the gate (4) is firmly maintained by the fixed battue, and does not risk accidentally forcing the gate (4) to open to the outside.

With reference to the figure 3 , the stepladder (1) also preferably comprises a tool holder shelf (17) positioned around the base of the U-shape of the guardrail (3). A second shelf (18) can be arranged on a lower U-shaped frame (19), hingedly connected by its ends to the uprights (6). The lower frame (19) is for example attached to the guardrail (3), preferably with straps (20) to pivot concomitantly with the guardrail (3) during the passage in the folded position or in the safety position.

With reference to figures 7 to 9 , and in order to allow the length of the uprights (6) and the supporting legs (9) to be increased, to carry out work higher up, on a non-horizontal ground, or on a staircase, said uprights (6 ) and said support legs (9) each and each comprise a lower telescopic part (21, 22).

The telescopic parts (21) of the uprights (6) are interconnected by secondary cross members (23) forming steps. The telescopic parts (22) of the support legs (9) are optionally also connected to each other by reinforcing crossbars (10).

The lower ends of the telescopic parts (21, 22) are inclined and move away from each other to improve the stability of the stepladder (1).

In order to lock the adjustment of the telescopic parts (21, 22) which slide around and along the uprights (6) and the supporting legs (9), said telescopic parts (21, 22) comprise means for locking in position.

For example, and with reference to the figure 8 , the telescopic parts (21, 22) comprise locking latches (24) able to engage in orifices (25) made in the uprights (6) and the support legs (9) during the sliding of the parts telescopic (21, 22). Said orifices (25) are in particular visible at the figure 1 .

The lower ends of the telescopic parts (21) of the uprights (6), or possibly the lower ends of the uprights (6) in the absence of telescopic parts, each comprise a stabilizing foot (26) articulated to pivot, for example by approximately 180 °, around a parallel axis uprights (6), to go from a deployed position in contact with the ground, reinforcing the stability of the stepladder (1), to a folded position against the climb plane (5) for deny access.

For example, each stabilizing foot (26) is produced by a tubular C-shaped frame, each end of which is connected to the corresponding telescopic part (21). The length of the stabilizing foot (26) is such that in the use position of the stepladder (1), and in the deployed position of the stabilizing foot (26), the latter comes into contact with the ground.

With reference to figures 1 and 7 , in a known manner and to facilitate the movement of the stepladder (1), the lower ends of the support legs (9) or of the telescopic parts (22) of said support legs (9), comprise wheels ( 27).

• écartement des jambes d'appui (9) jusqu'à la position de stabilisation, permettant concomitamment le rabattement de la plateforme (2) en position d'utilisation horizontale ;
• si besoin, réglage en hauteur et en horizontalité de la plateforme (2), en coulissant les différentes parties télescopiques (21, 22) ;
• lorsque la plateforme (2) est sensiblement horizontale, déverrouillage des pions escamotables (14) et basculement du garde-corps (3), ce qui entraine le coulissement vers le haut des barres de commande (11, 12) et leur basculement pour s'écarter des montants (6), jusqu'à ce que les barres de commande (11, 12) se verrouillent en position de sécurité avec les pions escamotables (14), correspondant à une position horizontale du garde-corps (3).

In practice, deployment from a folded storage position is carried out intuitively by successively carrying out the following phases:

• spacing of the supporting legs (9) to the stabilization position, simultaneously allowing the platform (2) to be folded into the horizontal use position;
• if necessary, height and horizontal adjustment of the platform (2), by sliding the various telescopic parts (21, 22);
• when the platform (2) is substantially horizontal, unlocking of the retractable pins (14) and tilting of the guardrail (3), which causes the upward sliding of the control bars (11, 12) and their tilting for s' move away from the uprights (6), until the control bars (11, 12) lock in the safety position with the retractable pins (14), corresponding to a horizontal position of the guardrail (3).

The user can then come onto the platform (2) by pushing the gate (4) forward, which automatically returns to the closed position as soon as the user is fully seated, in particular in abutment against the second control bar ( 12) acting as a fixed battue.

Obviously, the folding is carried out by proceeding in a reverse fashion to that which has just been described.

Claims (10)

Safety stepladder (1) comprising: - two parallel uprights (6) joined by cross members (7) to define a climb plane (5); - two support legs (9), each articulated in the upper part of one of the uprights (6) to occupy a storage position against the uprights (6), or a stabilization position separated from the uprights (6); - a platform (2) articulated between the two uprights (6) and the two support legs (9) and folding between a horizontal position of use when the legs (9) are in the stabilization position, and a folded position against the climb plane (5) when the legs (9) are in the storage position; - a guardrail (3) articulated at the top of the climb plane (5) and able to adopt, under the action of first and second control rods (11, 12), a folded position against the climb plane (5 ) or a horizontal safety position; characterized in that the first control bar (11) receives a gate (4) articulated to open inwards towards the guardrail (3) against an elastic return member (15) of the guardrail (3) in the closed position against the second control bar (12) which then itself directly acts as a fixed battue. Stepladder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second control bar (12) is rectilinear and has a curved intermediate portion (16) towards the first control bar (11) to form the battue as a such. Stepladder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second control rods (11, 12) are, in the upper part, articulated to the guardrail (3) and, in the lower part, are mounted to slide in two guide sleeves (13) mounted to pivot with respect to the uprights (6) to pass the guardrail (3) in the folded position or in the safety position. Stepladder (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the first and second control bars (11, 12) each comprise retractable pins (14) for locking the folded down and safety positions of the guardrail (3), the pins (14) being able to penetrate, during the sliding of the control rods (11, 12), into complementary orifices made in the guide sleeves (13). Stepladder (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that each upright (6) and each support leg (9) comprises a lower telescopic part (21, 22), the telescopic parts (21) of the uprights (6) being interconnected by secondary crosspieces (23). Stepladder (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the lower ends of the telescopic parts (21) of the uprights (6) each comprise a stabilizing foot (26) articulated to pivot about an axis parallel to the uprights (6), to go from a deployed position in contact with the ground, reinforcing the stability of the stepladder (1), to a folded position against the climb plane (5) to prevent access. Stepladder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower ends of the uprights (6) each comprise a stabilizing foot (26) articulated to pivot about an axis parallel to the uprights (6), to pass from one position deployed in contact with the ground reinforcing the stability of the stepladder (1), in a folded position against the climb plane (5) to prevent access. Stepladder (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support legs (9) are connected to one another by reinforcing crossbars (10). Stepladder (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the telescopic parts (21, 22) comprise locking latches (24) able to engage in orifices (25) made in the uprights (6) and in the support legs (9) during the sliding of the telescopic parts (21, 22). Stepladder (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the lower ends of the telescopic parts (21, 22) are inclined and move away from each other to improve the stability of the stepladder (1).

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