GB1572466A

GB1572466A - Ramps

Info

Publication number: GB1572466A
Application number: GB376777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PARTT B
Current assignee: PARTT B
Priority date: 1978-01-26
Filing date: 1978-01-26
Publication date: 1980-07-30

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO RAMPS (71) I, BRIAN CECIL PARIT, a British Subject, of Tonedale House, Bospin Lane, South Woodchester, Stroud, Gloucestershire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to ramps to enable a wheeled vehicle or other apparatus, for example an invalid carriage, to be wheeled from one level to another.

Disabled persons who are confined to a wheelchair frequently have to traverse steps and the like, for example the front doorsteps of domestic premises. This is a constant source of difficulty, as even when a helper is present the latter may not be strong enough to tilt and push the wheelchair plus occupant over the step. The object of the invention is to provide a ramp which is particularly, but by no means exclusively, useful to facilitate passage of a wheelchair over a doorstep or curb, while being collapsible for ease of transport and/or storage.

According to the invention a portable ramp comprises two spaced parallel track members directly interconnected by a collapsible parallel pivotal linkage such that, when collapsed, the track members lie closely side by side for transport and/or storage when the ramp is not in use.

The linkage may take the form of a simple parallelogram but it is more desirably of a toggle nature to reduce the overall length of the collapsed ramp and positively to define the extended width of the ramp. Thus the parallel linkage may comprise two parallel pairs of toggle links each pair of which interconnects the two track members, and the toggle pivots may be interconnected by a pivotal link which maintains parallelism of the toggle links and hence of the track members as the linkage is extended or collapsed.

T7e effective length of the toggle links may be adjustable, to vary the operative spacing of the track members, and the linkage pref erably extends by pivotal movement away from the lower end of the ramp so as to be convenient for operation by the foot of a person standing at that end. Operation by the foot in this manner is convenient with smaller sizes of ramp, such as used domestically with a wlielciiair. However, with larger industrial sizes nower operation may be desirable, in which case a hydraulic operating ram arranged to extend and collapse the linkage may be provided and arranged so that it lies parallel to the track members, either between or below them, when the linkage is collapsed.

The track members are desirably of channel form to guide the wheels of a wheelchair, for example, and short upper end portions may be inclined relatively to the remainder so as to rest,generally horizontally on the step or curb v!iL'fl which the ramp is used. This relative inclination may be adjustable, and a downwardly project1na, stop at the inner end of each end portion may be provided to engage the front edge of the step or curb and locate the ramp with respect thereto.

Non-slip pads of rubber or the like may be fixed below the track members, conveniently below the upper end portions which rest on the step or curb. The ramp may be manufac- soured from light alumirlium alloy to facilitate transport, and adaptable supporting brackets may be provided for fixing to a wheelchair.

These brackets enable the folded ramp to be wiansported in a fixed position on the wheelchair when not in use.

h illustrative embodiment of the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings and will now be described with reference thereto. In the drawings: - Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a ramp in accordance with the invention in operative condition; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view; and Figure 3 is a plan view showing the ramp in a collapsed inoperative condition tor transport and/or storage.

Two ramp members 10 and 11 of channel form are interconnected by a parallel linkage 12 which comprises two parallel pairs 13, 14 and 15, 16 of toggle links each pair of which interconnects the two track members 10 and 11. Thus the links 13 and 15 are respectively connected to the track member 10 by spaced pivot bolts 17 and 18, and the links 14 and 16 are connected to the track member 11 by similarly positioned pivot bolts 19 and 20.

The central pivot bolts 21 and 22 of the two toggles are maintained at the same spacing as the bolts 17 and 18, and the bolts 19 and 20, by a simple pivot link 23. This ensures parallelism of the various components, particularly the track members 10 and 11, as the linkage 12 is extended or collapsed and all the links are lengths of flat bar.

Stops 24 and 25, welded respectively to the track members 10 and 11, are engaged by the links 15 and 16 to limit linkage movement and define the extended toggle positions, as shown in Figure 2. Each track member 10 or 11 comprises a main portion 10a or 1 lea, and a short upper end portion lOb or llb. The two portions of each member are mutually inclined so that in use, as shown in Figure 1, the end portions lOb and 1 lib can rest flat on the upper surface of a step or curb 26 with the lower ends of the members 10 and resting on the ground.

Downwardly projecting stops 27 and 28, welded below the channel members at the inner ends of the end portions 10b and llb, engage the front edge of the step or curb 26 to locate the ramp relatively thereto. In particular, these stops provide a reaction which prevents the ramp sliding forwardly as the track members are entered by the front wheels of a wheelchair. Non-slip rubber pads 31 are fixed below the end portions 1 0a and lOb.

So that the extended width of the ramp can be adjusted, to suit the track of a particular wheelchair with which it is to be used, each of the parallel pairs of links 13, 14 and 15,16 has a row of alternative pivot bolt holes 29 or 30. These holes are selectively engageable by the pivot bolts 21 and 22, according to the ramp width desired. The maximum adjusted width is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

As will be appreciated the relative angle of inclination of the end portions lOb and 1 1b desirably suits the height of the step or curb 26 with which the ramp is mainly to be used.

To provide a ramp of more universal application, this angle may be adjustable. In a modified construction, which is not illustrated, each track member 10 or 11 comprises two separate portions 10a and 10b, or 1 lea and 1 lb. The two portions of each member are connected together by aligned side bolts, bich can be slackened off to allow relative pivotal movement of the portions to provide angular adjustment. At the desired angle, suiting the height of the step 26, these bolts are firmly tightened to lock the two portions of each member together.

The ramp illustrated is conveniently man ufactured from aluminium alloy, providing a light-weight construction which may be transported in a fixed position on an invalid wheelchair when not in use. To this end suit able mounting brackets (not shown) may be provided for fixing to the wheelchair. For general purpose wheelchair use, a typical construction may have an overall track length of about 2 feet with the track centre lines spaced by a like amount in the max imum width condition. The inclination of the end portions 10b and 1 1b may be chosen to suit a step or curb height of 3Q inches.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A portable ramp comprising two spaced parallel track members directly inter connected by a collapsible parallel pivotal linkage such that, when collapsed, the track members lie closely side-by-side for trans port and/or storage when the ramp is not in use.

2. A ramp according to claim 1, wherein the linkage is of a toggle nature and when extended positively defines the extended width of the ramp.

3. A ramp according to claim 2, wherein the linkage comprises two parallel pairs of toggle links each pair of which interconnects the two track members.

4. A ramp according to claim 3, wherein the toggle pivots of the two parallel pairs of toggle links are interconnected by a pivotal link which maintains parallelism of the toggle links as the linkage is extended or collapsed.

5. A ramp according to claim 3 or 4, wherein stops which limit extension of the toggle links are mounted on the track members.

6. A ramp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the effective length of the linkage is adjustable to vary the operative spacing of the track members.

7. A ramp according to claim 3, 4 or 5 and claim 6, wherein the pairs of toggle links each have a row of alternative pivot holes for selective engagement by the toggle pivots.

8. A ramp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the linkage extends by pivotal movement thereof away from the lower end of the ramp.

9. A ramp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a hydraulic operating ram which lies parallel to the track members when the linkage is collapsed is arranged to extend or collapse the linkage.

10. A ramp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the track members are of upwardly facing channel form.

11. A ramp according to any one of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. a collapsed inoperative condition tor transport and/or storage. Two ramp members 10 and 11 of channel form are interconnected by a parallel linkage 12 which comprises two parallel pairs 13, 14 and 15, 16 of toggle links each pair of which interconnects the two track members 10 and 11. Thus the links 13 and 15 are respectively connected to the track member 10 by spaced pivot bolts 17 and 18, and the links 14 and 16 are connected to the track member 11 by similarly positioned pivot bolts 19 and 20. The central pivot bolts 21 and 22 of the two toggles are maintained at the same spacing as the bolts 17 and 18, and the bolts 19 and 20, by a simple pivot link 23. This ensures parallelism of the various components, particularly the track members 10 and 11, as the linkage 12 is extended or collapsed and all the links are lengths of flat bar. Stops 24 and 25, welded respectively to the track members 10 and 11, are engaged by the links 15 and 16 to limit linkage movement and define the extended toggle positions, as shown in Figure 2. Each track member 10 or 11 comprises a main portion 10a or 1 lea, and a short upper end portion lOb or llb. The two portions of each member are mutually inclined so that in use, as shown in Figure 1, the end portions lOb and 1 lib can rest flat on the upper surface of a step or curb 26 with the lower ends of the members 10 and resting on the ground. Downwardly projecting stops 27 and 28, welded below the channel members at the inner ends of the end portions 10b and llb, engage the front edge of the step or curb 26 to locate the ramp relatively thereto. In particular, these stops provide a reaction which prevents the ramp sliding forwardly as the track members are entered by the front wheels of a wheelchair. Non-slip rubber pads 31 are fixed below the end portions 1 0a and lOb. So that the extended width of the ramp can be adjusted, to suit the track of a particular wheelchair with which it is to be used, each of the parallel pairs of links 13, 14 and 15,16 has a row of alternative pivot bolt holes 29 or 30. These holes are selectively engageable by the pivot bolts 21 and 22, according to the ramp width desired. The maximum adjusted width is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. As will be appreciated the relative angle of inclination of the end portions lOb and 1 1b desirably suits the height of the step or curb 26 with which the ramp is mainly to be used. To provide a ramp of more universal application, this angle may be adjustable. In a modified construction, which is not illustrated, each track member 10 or 11 comprises two separate portions 10a and 10b, or 1 lea and 1 lb. The two portions of each member are connected together by aligned side bolts, bich can be slackened off to allow relative pivotal movement of the portions to provide angular adjustment. At the desired angle, suiting the height of the step 26, these bolts are firmly tightened to lock the two portions of each member together. The ramp illustrated is conveniently man ufactured from aluminium alloy, providing a light-weight construction which may be transported in a fixed position on an invalid wheelchair when not in use. To this end suit able mounting brackets (not shown) may be provided for fixing to the wheelchair. For general purpose wheelchair use, a typical construction may have an overall track length of about 2 feet with the track centre lines spaced by a like amount in the max imum width condition. The inclination of the end portions 10b and 1 1b may be chosen to suit a step or curb height of 3Q inches. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A portable ramp comprising two spaced parallel track members directly inter connected by a collapsible parallel pivotal linkage such that, when collapsed, the track members lie closely side-by-side for trans port and/or storage when the ramp is not in use.

11. A ramp according to any one of the

preceding claims, wherein short upper end portions of the track members are inclined relatively to the remainder so as to rest generally horizontally on a step or curb with which the ramp is used.

12. A ramp according to claim 11, wherein the relative inclination of the upper end portions is adjustable.

13. A ramp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein downwardly projecting stops are fitted to each track member for engagement with the front edge of a step or curb to locate the ramp with respect thereto.

14. A ramp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein non-slip pads of rubber or the like are fixed below the track members.

15. A ramp according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with supporting brackets for attachment to a wheelchair or the like, said brackets being designed to support the ramp for transport in a collapsed condition when not in use.

16. A portable ramp constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings. --