GB2229153A - Kit for assembling a wheel support for road vehicles - Google Patents

Description

1 k 1 KIT FOR ASSEMBLING A WHEEL SUPPORT FOR ROAD VEHICLES The invention

concerns a wheel support, in kit form, for road vehicles.

As a general rule, vehicles can be parked on ground which is uneven or sloping without any problem but there are situations where it is important that the vehicle remains relatively horizontal when the ground beneath is uneven or inclined. This applies particularly in the case of camping vehicles (caravans, mobile homes and motor coaches) in which people stay, eat and, where possible, also sleep while the vehicle is parked. It can also apply in some circumstances to goods vehicles when it is necessary to prevent the load from shifting or to facilitate easier loading and unloading.

Where it is necessary to provide a support for a single wheel of a vehicle to compensate for uneveness in the height of the ground, it is always possible, for example, to place a suitable rock. or a block of the required height at an appropriate place and to drive the wheel of the vehicle onto it. Such a means of compensating for uneveness has the basic disadvantage that a suitable object has to be found or one carried in the vehicle. Since it is almost certain that the height of the object required will not be known in advance there is no possibility of carrying a suitable object in the vehicle unless a number of such objects of differing heights are carried which is extremely impractical. Beyond a certain height of support there 2 is a problem in driving the wheel onto the support because of the risk of the support being displaced, tilting or sliding away.

Jacks, hydraulic supports or similar devices may be used to jack up road vehicles at certain points on the vehicle body. These devices may thus be used to compensate for uneveness in the ground. Normally such devices are unsuitable for the situation described above, since they are unable to keep the vehicle stable when lateral or longitudinal forces are exerted on it. If such forces are applied therefore, there is a risk that the support will tilt. leading to a hazardous situation.

Where it is necessary for the vehicle to stand more or less horizontal on sloping ground it is always better to compensate for any uneveness in the ground by providing a suitable support for the wheels since the wheels are the most suitable points for transmitting forces from the vehicle to the ground. However, it is not generally possible for conventional hydraulic supports to be applied to the whee.1s of a vehicle.

The object of the invention is thus to provide a wheel support assembly kit for vehicles which is easily assembled and manipulated and allows the support height to be varied to compensate for differences in ground level and that is also easy to transport in the vehicle.

According to the present invention, a wheel support assembly kit comprises a plurality of stackable 3 elements adapted to be stacked in a predetermined sequence, each element affording an upper wheel supporting surface and the elements being so constructed that a stack consisting of two or more elements affords a ramp extending over the full height of the stack on which a wheel may roll to the wheel supporting surface of the uppermost element,, - each adjacent pair of elements affording interlocking means by means of which the elements are locked together when in the assembled state.

Thus a wheel support of the desired height can be readily asembled from a kit in accordance with the invention by stacking together the required number of elements, whilst the unused elements may be conveniently stacked away. The construction of the elements is such that, how ever many elements are used, at least one side of the stack of elements constitutes a ramp, which may be a sloping surface or a set of steps, to enable a wheel to be driven onto the support easily.

The wheel support assembled from the kit is not necessarily limited to use with one type of vehicle: the invention is suitable for use with large and heavy vehicles as well as small ones. Since the elements interlock when stacked together, a high degree of inherent stability is ensured, with the elements being prevented from relative movement when a vehicle is driven onto the support. Furthermore, unlike a Jack, a wheel support assembled from the kit need not be attached to the vehicle body or wheel when it is used. It is simply necessary to assemble the required number k 4 of elements: handling is thus very simple even for unskilled persons.

In one embodiment,, the elements of the kit are substantially cuboidal and are so constructed that,, when they are assembled in a stack as described above, at least one side of the stack is stepped. - - Thus, in this embodiment,, the elements are plates whose size decreases with increasing height of the stack, which form a stepped ramp up one or more sides of the support. The thickness, of the elements is of course chosen to avoid any difficulty in driving a wheel up onto the support and preferably all the elements have the same height or thickness.

In another, preferred, embodiment each element has at least one inclined side face, whereby an inclined ramp is provided on at least one side of an assembled stack of such elements. Thus a sloping surf ace at an acute angle to the horizontal is provided, extending over the full height of the stack, which makes it particularly easy to drive a wheel up the stack. In this embodiment again the elements are preferably of equal height.

In a further preferred embodiment, the elements are substantially polygonal in plan and each side face is inclined whereby the assembled stack is of a truncated pyramidal shape with a ramp on each side. Thus the wheel support does not need to be aligned in any particular direction for the wheel to be driven onto it since- it is equally possible to drive up any of the sides. In this embodiment it is preferable for the size and shape of the upper surface of each element to k be exactly equal to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the element immediately above it in the stack so that# irrespective of how many kit elements are stacked, a stepless truncated pyramid is formed. It is. of course. equally possible to provide a wheel support with stepped ramps on each side which offers the advantage that the elements are of particularly simple shape# being plates with substantially vertical side walls. The size of the uppermost element in a kit must, of course, always be sufficient to provide a wheel support surface ot' adequate size.

Since each of the elements in the kit has an upper wheel supporting surface large enough to support a vehicle wheel, it is ensured that the top surface of a support assembled from the kit is always capable of supporting the vehicle wheel and capable of transmitting a load from the wheel to the ground.

The wheel support surface can be of any desired shape that provides reliable support for the vehicle wheel: it can therefore be an absolutely flat surface provided that it is of sufficient size to support the bottom surface of a vehicle wheel. However, a non-flat top surface is preferred, which provides support for the wheel as well as countering any tendency of the wheel to roll off the support.

In a further embodiment of the inventiont the wheel supporting surface of each element is concave. Thus the top of each element has a concave depression whichf even if only of shallow depth, counters any undesirable tendency of a wheel to roll of the support. In such an 6 arrangement, a further highly advantageous feature is that each element except the bottom element has a convex bottom surface which matches the concave top surface of the element immediately beneath it in the assembled stack. Thus the convex bottom surface of each element engages with the concave top surface of the element immediately beneath it in the stack over substantially all the concave surface. The bottom element does not have a concave bottom surface. so that the stack is stable.

In such an arrangement, the wheel support is solid throughout, which enables the load from a vehicle wheel resting on the support to be transmitted to the ground directly.

Any suitable means may be used for interlocking the elements in a stack. One preferred arrangement is for each element except the bottom element to have a plurality of downwardly- protruding lugs on the bottom surface thereof which fit into corresponding recesses in the element immediately beneath it in the assembled stack. Such a plug and socket connection makes it possible to stack a number of elements simply by placing one on top of the other thereby inserting the lugs into the corresponding recesses from above.

In another embodiment, which is capable of withstanding considerable lateral force tending to move the elements relative to each other in a stack, each element except the bottom element has one or more undercut, or dovetail, projections on its bottom surface which fit into one or more corresponding undercut. or a dovetail, 6 k 7 recesses in the element immediately beneath it in the assembled stack. In a variation of this embodiment each element except the bottom element has a plurality of undercut ribs on its bottom surfa'ce which engage with corresponding undercut grooves in the element immediately beneath it in the assembled stack. In such an arrangement it is no longer possible to plug each element into the next from above; rather, each element has to be slid sideways into the next element in the kit. Thereby a support is provided, capable of withstanding considerable forces between the various elements at right angles to the direction in which they are slid together.

Good adherence between the bottom element in an assembly and the ground beneath it is achieved if the bottom surface of the-bottom element of the kit is suitable shaped or profiled to resist lateral movement with respect to the ground on which it is positioned, in use. Where the wheel support is to be used on soft ground, this surface can be provided with spike-like protrusions which engage well with soft soil. Alternatively, the surface can be provided with suitable transverse ribs that avoid undesirable slipping on soft and hard soil. Thus the wheel support can be prevented from slipping when driving the wheel of a vehicle onto it.

In order to make it more difficult for a vehicle wheel to roll off the wheel support. it is preferable for the top surface of the support also to be provided with suitable transverse grooves or transverse ribs.

8 In certain unusual cases it may be necessary, in order to maintain the top surf ace of the wheel support horizontal, to make the bottom surface of the lowermost kit element inclined to match the sloping ground beneath. Thus a large contact area with the ground is ensured. This is preferably achieved by making the bottom surface of the bottom element inclined to its top surface.

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a number of specific embodiments given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheel support assembly kit in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment, showing a section through an assembled wheel support; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment, showing a section through an assembled wheel support; Figure 4 is a schematic section through a further embodiment in which there is an angle between the bottom and top surfaces of the assembled wheel support; and 1 Figure 5 is a schematic section through a further embodiment in which there is an angle between the bottom and top surfaces of the assembled wheel support.

The same reference numerals are used throughout to designate similar features.

ieferri-ng to Figure 1, a wheel-support is assembled from a kit of three elements 2a, 2b and 2c. The A 9 support is shown in exploded form with the kit elements 2a, 2b and 2c separated in a vertical direction. A wheel support is assembled by placing one or more of the elements on top of each other in the correct sequence.

The lowermost element 2a is designed as the base element for the wheel support 1, i.e. it is designed to be placed on the ground. The upper elements 2b and 2c each have four lugs 3 protruding downwards, although the number of lugs is not restricted to four. These lugs 3 are inserted in suitably positioned and shaped recesses 4 on the upper surface of the elements 2a and 2b so that the assembled wheel support 1 is composed of three kit elements 2a, 2b and 2c placed one above the other and coupled by form locking means, in this case by means of the lugs 3 and recesses 4, so that the elements cannot be displaced relative to one another when, for example, the vehicle wheel is driven up one side of the wheel support 1. The wheel support 1 is provided with a ramp extending over its full height which enables the wheel to be driven onto the upper support surface of the uppermost. kit element. This ramp is formed by the inclined surfaces 5a, 5b and 5c on the front of the wheel support illustrated in Figure 1 and by the inclined surfaces 6a,, 6b and 6c on the opposite rear side of the wheel support. The surfaces of each set of surfaces are coplanar when the support is assembled. The wheel support 1 can, of course, include additional elements which can be fitted above or below whereby the height of the support may be increased. If the wheel support 1 is required to be lower, it is of course, also possible to use only the X- base element 2a and the next element 2b together. if an even lower support is required, it may be sufficient to use only the base element 2a.

In this embodiment, irrespective of whether a support requiring all or some or only one of the elements is used, a drive on ramp is always provided at the front and the rear which extends over the full assembled height of the support.

All the elements, including the uppermost element 2c, are provided with a wheel support surface 7 that is large enough to support the vehicle wheel.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the upper surface of each element 2a, 2b and 2c is flat whereas in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 the wheel support surface 7a is the base of an undercut, or dovetail, recess formed in the top of each element, which is defined at its front and rear ends by shoulders 8,9, each extending perpendicular to the direction in which the vehicle is driven on to the support and having an inclined face 10,11 forming a side of the dovetail recess. 1 The embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 has the great advantage that the dovetail recess in the top of elements 2a and 2b not only provides the wheel support surface 7a but also acts as a form locking connector between separate elements as illustrated for the two bottom elements 2a and 2b in Figure 2. In such a kit. all.the elements with the exception of the base:calement 2a are provided on their underside with a suitable 11 dovetail key 11a shaped to fit in the dovetail recess on the upper side of the element below. A consequence of this is that an individual element can no longer, as in the embodiment of Figure 1. be plugged into one below it from above, but must instead be slid into the lower element from one side. The elements are thus dovetailed together. one above the other. as shown in Figure 2,, and relative movement is restrained in the direction parallel to that in which a wheel moves onto the wheel support.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment having a different wheel support surface in the form of a concave depression 7b on the uppermost side of each element 2a, 2b (and of course on any additional elements that may be in the kit). There are also corresponding undercut dovetail grooves 12 in the wheel support surface 7b transverse to the direction in which a wheel would run onto the support. The dovetail grooves can interlock with the dovetail projections 12a on the elements immediately above so that each element 2a,2b can be joined to the next by sliding the projections 12a sideways into the associated grooves 12.

In this arrangement# the grooves 12 in the wheel support surface 7b also define transverse ribs which, together with the concave depression, counter any tendency of the vehicle wheel to roll off the wheel support unintentionally. The grooves 12 can also serve to drain off any moisture, etc. that may be present between a vehicle wheel and the wheel support surface 7b.

12 In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the various elements 2a, 2b and 2c are each of similar height Hi but it would, of course, also be possible for the various elements to be of different height. For example, the base element 2a may be of greater height and all the subsequent elements 2b,2c etc. of similary lower height. Alternatively. the elements may have successively decreasing heights. This is, however, a question of practical expediency that can be decided in each case in the light of the probable use to which the wheel support is to be put. It is generally preferable, however, for each element to be of similar height H.

Turning now to the shape of the elements in Figure 1 j it should be noted that the side faces of each element are vertical. The angle of slope of the inclined faces at the front 5a, 5b, 5c should preferably be the same as those at the rear 6ar 6b, 6c with this angle preferably within the range of 300 to 450.

In order that the ramps 5 and 6 have an uninterrupted incline when the kit is assembled,, it is actually necessary for the successive kit elements 2a, 2b,,,2c to be shaped so that the bottom surface of each element 2a. 2b. 2c, exactly matches the top surface of the element 2a, 2b beneath.

Alternatively. it would be possible to make each element in the form of a plate that is rectangular both in plan and cross-section with perpendicular faces so that the drive-on ramps are not in the form of a continuous slope but are in the form of a stepped ramp.

z k 13 This can be achieved by making successive cuboidal elements in a kit somewhat shorter than the next in the direction or directions in which a wheel is to be driven onto the support so that a stepped ramp is provided over the full height of the stack. Care must then be taken that the height H of each element 2a. 2b. 2c is not made too great so that it becomes impossible to drive a wheel up the ramp.

As an alternative to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1, it is also possible for inlcined ramps to be provided on all four sides of the wheel support,, in which case the wheel support should preferably be so designed that when assembled it forms a truncated pyramid. Thus,, referring to Figure 1,. the left-hand and right-hand sides of the elements should also be given a slope similar to the slopes 5a, 5b, 5c and 6a, 6b, 6c so that when the kit is assembled a drive-on ramp will be formed on the sides concerned. The other features can, however, remain unchanged from those illustrated in Figure 1.

in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the lowermost side of each base element 2a is shaped to provide effective engagement between the base element and the ground and thus to provide better resistance against slipping. Any suitable form of grooving or profiling can be used, but parallel ribst as shown in Figure 2, or hook-like spikes as shown in Figure 3 are preferred.

Alternatively. it is also possible for the bottom of the base element 2a to be provided with a coating that will give it a better grip on the surface on which it rests. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous if the nature of the surface on which the wheel support is to rest is known beforehand and the coating is selected accordingly.

if the wheel support surface 7 is concave, as shown in Figure 3, then it is preferable for all the elements 2b, etc., with the exception of the base element 2a, to have a corresponding convex undersurface so that when two elements are slid together they will form a solid block with the bottom surface of each element being fully supported by the element beneath it.

Figures 4 and 5 show two further wheel supports for use where the upper surface of the supports needs to be aligned differently from the bottom surface. In Figure 4 the support provides an angle, P, transverse to the direction in which a wheel rolls onto the support, between the base and the top surface of the support. In Figure 5 the support provides a similar angle, 9 1 in a direction parallel to that in which a wheel rolls onto the support. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a base element 2a of a wheel support. Subsequent elements 2b,2c, etc. need not have an angle between their upper and lower surfaces and may thus be similar to those described in one or more previous embodiments.

Any suitable material may be used for the wheel supports but wood or a suitable plastic is preferred. Plastic is preferred to wood where complicated shapes are involved since the somewhat complicated procedures for generating such forms in wood are avoided with R plastic. With plastic it is also possible to apply a fibre reinforcement to areas which are highly stressed whereby strength is increased with minimal increase in weight.

In addition it may also be desirable to giv e the various kit elements a particular colour or reflectivity to facilitate manipulation of the wheel support under poor lighting conditions.

It is also possible for'the various elements for such a wheel support to be provided with moisture-drainage openings by which any liquid on the upper surface of the wheel support can be drained off laterally or through the elements.

k 16

Claims (17)

1. A wheel support assembly kit comprising a plurality of stackable elements adapted to be stacked in a predetermined sequence, each element affording an upper wheel supporting surface. the elements being so constructed that a stack consisting of two or' more elements affords a ramp extending over the full height of the stack up which a wheel may roll to the wheel supporting surface of the uppermost element, each adjacent pair of elements affording interlocking means by which the elements are locked together when in the assembled state.

2. A kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elements are substantially cuboidal and so constructed that at least one side of the assembled stack is stepped.

3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each element is of equal height.

4. A kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein each element has at least one inclined side face whereby an inclined ramp is provided on at least one side of the assembled stack.

5. A kit as claimed in claim 4 wherein each element is polygonal in plan and each s ide face is inclined whereby the assembled stack is of truncated pyramidal shape with a ramp on each side.

6. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the wheel supporting surface of each k 17 element is concave.

7. A kit as claimed in claim 6 wherein each element except the bottom element has a convex bottom surface which matches the concave top surface of the element immediately beneath it in the assembled stack.

8. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each element except the bottom element has a plurality of downwardlyprotruding lugs on the bottom surface thereof which fit into corresponding recesses in the element immediately beneath it in the assembled stack.

9. A wheel support assembly kit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein each element except the bottom element has one or more undercut projections on its bottom surface which fit into one or more corresponding undercut recesses in the element immediately beneath it in the assembled stacks.

10. A kit as claimed in claim 9 wherein each element except the bottom element has a plurality of undercut ribs on its bottom surface which engage with corresponding undercut grooves in the element immediately beneath it in the assembled stack.

11. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bottom surface of the bottom element is shaped to resist lateral movement with respect to the ground upon which it is positioned when in use.

12. A kit as claimed in claim 11 wherein the bottom t 18 surface of the bottom element has downwardly-protruding spikes.

13. A kit as claimed in claim 11 wherein the bottom surface of the bottom element has transverse ribs.

14. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the top surface of each element has transverse grooves or ribs.

15. A kit as claimed In any one of the preceding claims wherein the bottom surface of the bottom element is inclined to the top surface.

16. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the elements are made of wood, plastic or fibre-reinforced plastic.

17. A wheel support assembly kit substantially as specifically herein described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4 or Figure 5.

Published 1990 at The Patent Office. State House. 68 71 High Holborn. London WC1R 4TP. Purther copies maybe obtainedfrom The PatentOffice Sales Branch, St Mary Cray. Orpington, Kent ERS 3RD. Printed by MulUplex teques Ild. St Mary CrAy. Kent. Con. V87 1