GB2243820A

GB2243820A - Ramp for access to a rubbish skip or other structure

Info

Publication number: GB2243820A
Application number: GB9109953A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Ingram
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-05-08
Filing date: 1991-05-08
Publication date: 1991-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-08
Also published as: GB9109953D0; GB2243820B

Abstract

A ramp (1) for providing access to a structure (12) includes hook means (11) at its upper end to hook over the structure (12), and a longitudinally extending track (6) for receiving the wheel of a wheel-barrow and restraining lateral movement thereof. The ramp also provides walkway regions (9) either side of the track (6) for supporting a person ascending the ramp (1). Pref. the ramp is formed from extruded channel sections and may have a wheel stop, anti-slip surfaces or have an extension at the top. A further ramp (1') can be joined to the first. <IMAGE>

Description

"Ramp for Access to a Rubbish Skip or other Structure" This specification relates to a ramp for access to a rubbish skip or to other structures, particularly those used in the building industry such as scaffolding.

It is frequently desired to empty the contents of a wheelbarrow into a rubbish skip. However, skips have high sides and unless positioned at a purpose built site such as council waste dump, access is difficult. As a result ad hoc arrangements are used by labourers, such as a wooden plank which is rested on the lip of the skip and used as a ramp.

A problem with such arrangements is that the ramp is unstable and that a wheelbarrow may slip off of the ramp. A similar problem arises when providing access for a wheelbarrow to scaffolding or the like.

It is therefore proposed herein to provide a purpose built ramp for a rubbish skip of other structure which has various new and inventive features, whether considered separately or together.

Thus, one invention disclosed herein provides a ramp for providing access to a structure, the ramp having hook means at its upper end to hook over the structure, and a longitudinally extending track for receiving the wheel of a wheelbarrow and restraining lateral movement thereof, there being walkway regions either side of the track for supporting a person ascending the ramp.

Thus, a person such as a labourer can walk up the.

ramp with his feet either side of the track, pushing a wheelbarrow whose wheel is located safely in the track.

Preferably the arrangement is such that means are provided for preventing movement of the wheel beyond the o of the ramp to prevent the wheelbarrow accidentally falling into e.g. a skip. Thus, a stop could be provided on the ramp at the end of the track. In < h a case the ramp may be positioned over the rim of the skip. Alternatively, the arrangement may be such that the ramp or at least the top end of the base of--the track, is below the top of the structure, such as the rim of the skip. This means that e.g. the wall of the skip itself will extend across the track and act as a stop when the ramp is in use.

Care should be taken to ensure that the wall of the skip, or a stop if provided, or any other part of the construction, does not obstruct adequate tipping of the wheelbarrow when the wheel is at the end of the track.

However, in one preferred embodiment a portion extends beyond the end of the track, beyond any stop provided, to be engaged by a conventional "bumper" provided around the wheel of a wheelbarrow. This is arranged to permit adequate tipping of the barrow, but to prevent excessive tipping with the risk of the barrow falling into the skip.

The track may be provided on the surface of the ramp, for example being formed by two longitudinally extending bars or an extruded track. Preferably, however, the track is recessed from the main surface of the ramp. A particularly preferred arrangement has a recessed track formed from an extruded channel, e.g. of aluminium.

The ramp should be sufficiently rigid to carry a person and a laden wheelbarrow, and to withstand the rigours of use. Preferably the ramp comprises a pair of longitudinally extending support members, a longitudinally extending, upwardly open channel memberbetween the support members, and walkway forming members connected between the support members and the channel member. Preferably the channel member has a pair of outwardly directed flanges along its upper edges to which the walkway forming members are attached. In this case, the walkway forming members are preferably also attached to the top portions of the support members3.

Reinforcing members may be provided, extending between the support members, beneath the channel member.

The support members may be e.g. box sections of aluminium, or steel angle sections. The reinforcing members may be steel bars, plates or the like.

The walkway forming members preferably provide a good surface to prevent slipping by a user. They could, for example, be steel chequer plates or other suitable sheets or plates having anti-slip surfaces.

The components may be bolted, welded or riveted together, or formed in any other suitable manner. The choice of material can be varied, and any suitable metals, wood, plastics and so forth may be employed if desired.

The hook means for attaching the ramp to the skip may be of steel or any other suitable material.

Typically, a pair of hooks would be provided, one at either side of the ramp. As noted earlier, it is advantageous for a wall of the skip or other structure to act as a stop to prevent the wheelbarrow going beyond the ramp and e.g. falling into the skip. This can be achieved by having the hooks disposed a significant distance above the surface that the--wheel of a barrow will run up.

Thus one invention disclosed herein provides a ramp for providing access to a structure, the ramp having a longitudinally extending surface of which a wheel of a wheelbarrow is to run in use, and hook means at its upper end to hook over the structure, the arrangement of the longitudinally extending surface and the hook means being such that when the ramp is hooked over the structure, a part of the structure acts as a stop at the end of the surface.

This will generally be achieved by ensuring that the portions of the hook means that engage the upper surface of the structure are displaced by a significant amount from the longitudinally extending surface ,.. a direction perpendicular to the surface. Typically, the distance might be at least 75 mm and in one preferred construction it is about 100 mm.

In the case of a recessed track, the hooks can be approximately level with the top surface of the ramp, whilst still being suitably spaced from the surface of the track in which the wheel runs.

In use, the top end of the ramp will be hooked over e.g. a skip and the bottom end will rest on the ground.

In some cases, i.e. with high walled skips, the ramp may then be too steep. This could be avoided by the use of a longer ramp, but that has a number of disadvantages such as difficulties of transporting long ramps in vans or the like, and the need to have ramps of various lengths for different purposes.

Thus, preferably a system is available which enables a ramp to be joined to another ramp to facilitate access to high walled skips or other high structures. There are many ways in which this could be achieved. However, it has now been found that it is only essential for the lower parts of the complete ramp to be at a relatively shallow angle to facilitate access, whereas the upper portion near the skip can be steeper. Thus, a first ramp can be hooked over the structure at its upper end and have its lower end engaging the ground, this ramp being of a relatively steep angle. A second ramp, extending longitudinally from the first ramp, will have its lower end engaging the ground and will have its upper end attached to the first ramp at a point intermediate the ends of the first ramp. The second ramp will then be at a relatively shallow angle. Whilst the second ramp could be a purpose built ramp, it is preferably identical to the first and the attachment of the second ramp to the first rp is achieved by the hook means of the second ramp engaging suitable means, such as lugs or apertures, on the first ramp.

Thus, one invention disclosed herein provides a ramp for providing access to a structure, the ramp having hook means at its upper end to hook over-the structure, and hook engaging means intermediate its ends for engaging with the hook means of a like ramp so as to join the ramps together.

Preferably, the hook engaging means are apertures on either side of the ramp, which receive the hook means. The portion of attachment of one ramp to another is preferably variable and in that case a number of hook engaging means may be provided along the length of the ramp.

More than two ramps could be joined together, if desired. A series of two or more ramps may be desirable not only for access to high structures, but where there is uneven ground.

This invention also extends to the provision of a plurality of ramps as described above, adapted to be formed together to provide access to a structure.

Another invention disclosed herein provides a ramp for providing access for a barrow to a structure, the ramp having hook means at its upper end to hook over the structure, a stop to restrict movement of a barrow wheel beyond the end of the ramp, and a portion extending beyond the stop to engage a portion of a wheelbarrow, such as a bumper aroun a wheel, to restrict tipping of the barrow.

When a skip becomes full, it usually fills up firstly adjacent the end where rubbish is being deposited. Access to the other end can be restricted.

Accordingly it is proposed that preferably an extension be provided to be laid on top of rubbish in the skip, but connected to the top end of the ramp. Preferably, the attachment will be by means of the hook means on the ramp and the extension is provided with means, such as lugs or apertures, at the end to engage with the hook means.

If desired, a ramp itself could be used as the extension, being provided with hook engaging means at its lower end. A multi-purpose ramp for use asian extension or as a second ramp portion could have hooks at one end and e.g. apertures along its length and at the other end.

Alternatively, the extension may be a purpose built component. In any event, it will probably be shorter than a ramp used to gain access to the skip. It would not need the hook means if it has apertures or the like to engage the hook means of the ramp. It may be of generally simpler construction and, for example, it may not have a specific track for the wheel of a wheelbarrow.

Where an extension is used, it will be necessary for the wheel of a wheelbarrow to pas over the rim of the skip. Where a stop is provided, either as a separate element or as part of the skip wall, a wedge or the like may be used to facilitate movement of the wheel from the ramp to the extension. The wedge will generally be removable, and may have a hook to hook over the rim of the skip.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a ramp embodying some of the features, referred to above; Figure 2 is a side view of the ramp; Figure 3 is a top end view of the ramp; Figure 4 is a section through a modified ramp; Figure 5 is a view of the ramp in use; -Figure 6 is a view of two ramps joined together in use; Figure 7 is a top plan view of an extension for use ;ridge a skip; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a wedge for use when the extension is employed; Figure 9 is a partial section showing the extension in use; and Figure 10 is a view of the top of a modified ramp.

As shown in figures 1, 2 and 3 a ramp 1 which may be for example 3 to 6 m in length has two elongate, parallel side members 2 and 3 which in this case are steel angle members. These are interconnected by bridging members 4 which in this case are steel plates, spaced along the length of the ramp. These plates 4 are bolted at 5 to the side members 2 and 3. An elongate track 6 is positioned intermediate the side members 2 and 3 and parallel thereto. The track is an extruded aluminium channel. The bottom 7 rests on the bridging members 4. The open top of the channel has a pair of laterally outwardly extending flanges 8 along its length. These flanges 8 are level with the tops of the side members 2 and 3.Between the side members and the flanges 8 are provided walkways in the form of galvanised steel chequer plates 9, which are welded, riveted or otherwise joined to the side members and the flanges, as appropriate. Additional bracing bars 10 may be provided as desired. At the upper end of each side member 2, 3 is provided an L shaped steel hook 11 bolted or otherwise joined to the side member. These hooks are adapted to engage over the lip of a skip in use.

Whilst dimensions are optional, in this particular case the ramp is about 60 cm wide and the track is about 10 cm deep. This provides.adequate location of the wheel of a wheelbarrow, which will be restrained laterally by the side walls of the track 6. The track is about 10 cm wide to accommodate the wheel.

In Figure 4 an alternative form of construction is shown, in which the side members 2' and 3' are aluminium h sections. The aluminium channel 6' is as before, as are the bridging members 4' and the chequer plates 9'.

In this construction the components are all riveted together. This is a lighter, but less sturdy, form of construction.

Figure 5 shows the ramp 1 in use against a~Zow walled skip 12, with the hooks 11 engaging over the lip of the skip. Because the bottom surface 7 of the track is below the hooks 11 and thus the lip of the skip, part of the skip wall 13 will act as a stop across the end of the track. This prevents a wheelbarrow wheel continuing on, over the lip of the skip.

Figure 6 shows two identical ramps 1 and 1' used together to provide access to a high-sided skip 14. As shown, the ramp 1' has one end 15 resting on the ground spaced from the end 16 of ramp 1 which rests on the ground. The upper end 17 of ramp 1' is attached part way up ramp 1. As shown in Figure 1, the side members 2 and 3 of ramp 1 have apertures 18 spaced along their length and the hooks 11' of ramp 1' engage in two of these.

Figure 7 shows an extension 10 for use with a skip, on top of rubbish. Typically, it may be 2-3 m long and the same width as the ramp. It comprises two side members 20 and 21, which may be identical to those of the ramp 1, bridging members 22 which again may be identical to those of the ramp 1 and attached to the side members in the same way, and a galvanised steel chequer plate pathway 23 attached to the frame sides.

At one or both ends the extension 19 is provided with apertures 24 to receive the hooks 11 of ramp 1. When the extension 19 is used, a wedge 25, as shown in Figure 8, is pushed into the top of the track 6. The wedge 25 has an inclined portion 26 and a hook portion 27 to engage over the lip of a skip. It may be made from e.g. aluminium or steel plate.The angle of the inclined portion may typically be 50 Figure 9 shows the extension 19 used inside the skip 14, in conjunction with the ramp 1. The extension 19 rests on top of the spoil 28 in the skip 14. X hooks 11 of the ramp 1 do not engage the skip in this case although they hook over the lip; instead they engage in the apertures 24 of the extension 19.- The wedge 25 is located in the track 6, with its hook portion 27 hooking over the lip of the skip to locate the wedge in portion.

In the embodiment of figure 10 the ramp 31 has a channel member 32 on its underside which is hooked over the rim of the skip 14. The track 33 is provided with a stop 34 at its end. An extension 35 projects beyond the stop to restrict tipping of a barrow by engaging a bumper bar around the wheel thereof. The extension has an end wall 36 and a pair of support bars 37. The base 38 of the extension is below the surface of the ramp.

Many variations of the construction described will be apparent to those skilled in the art and protection is sought for such variation as well as for the specific construction and broad aspect set forth herein.

Claims

1. A ramp for providing access to a structure, wherein the ramp has hook means at its upper end to hook over the structure, and a longitudinally extending track for receiving a wheel of a wheel-barrow and for restraining lateral movement thereof, there being walkway regions either side of the track for supporting a person ascending the ramp.

2. A ramp as claimed in claim 1 including means for preventing movement of the wheel beyond the end of the ramp.

3. A ramp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for preventing movement of the wheel beyond the end of the ramp comprises a stop provided on the ramp at the end of the track.

4. A ramp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement is such that in use at least the top end of the base of the track is below the top of the structure whereby a portion of the structure acts as a stop to prevent movement of the wheel beyond the end of the ramp.

5. A ramp as claimed in claims 3 or 4, wherein a portion extends beyond the end of the track beyond the stop, the extended portion being arranged to be engaged in use by a bumper provided around the wheel of the wheel-barrow.

6. A ramp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the track is recessed from the main surface of the ramp.

7. A ramp as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reused track is formed from an extruded channel.

8. A ramp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ramp comprises a pair of longitudinally extending support members, a longitudinally extending, upwardly open channel member between the support members, and walkway forming members connected between the support members and the channel member.

9. A ramp as claimed in claim 8, wherein the channel member has a pair of outwardly directed flanges along its upper edges to which the walkway forming members are attached, the walkway forming members also being attached to the top portions of the support members.

10. A ramp as claimed in claims 8 or 9, wherein the walkway forming members have anti-slip surfaces.

11. A ramp as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arrangement of the longitudinally extending surface and the hook means is such that when the ramp is hooked over the structure, a part of the structure acts as a stop at the end of the surface.

12. A ramp as claimed in claim 11, wherein the portions of the hook means that engage the upper surface of the structure are spaced from the longitudinally extending surface in a direction perpendicular to the surface.

13. A ramp as claimed in any preceding claim, having hook engaging means intermediate its ends for engaging with the hook means of a like ramp so as to join the ramps together.

14. A ramp as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hook engaging means are apertures on either side of the ramp which are adapted to receive the hook means.

15. A ramp as claimed in claims 13 or 14, wherein the position of attachment of one ramp to another is variable.

16. A ramp as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with an extension, connected to the top end of the ramp.

17. A combination as claimed in claim 16, wherein a wedge is provided to facilitate movement of the wheel from the ramp to the extension.

18. A ramp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 and 5 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A ramp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A ramp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.