GB2259903A - Portable ramp - Google Patents

Portable ramp Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2259903A
GB2259903A GB9120509A GB9120509A GB2259903A GB 2259903 A GB2259903 A GB 2259903A GB 9120509 A GB9120509 A GB 9120509A GB 9120509 A GB9120509 A GB 9120509A GB 2259903 A GB2259903 A GB 2259903A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
shaft
assembly
ramp
channel
wheel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9120509A
Other versions
GB9120509D0 (en
Inventor
Kevin Bridges
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Linpac Mouldings Ltd
Original Assignee
Lin Pac Mouldings Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lin Pac Mouldings Ltd filed Critical Lin Pac Mouldings Ltd
Priority to GB9120509A priority Critical patent/GB2259903A/en
Publication of GB9120509D0 publication Critical patent/GB9120509D0/en
Publication of GB2259903A publication Critical patent/GB2259903A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G69/00Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with loading or unloading
    • B65G69/28Loading ramps; Loading docks
    • B65G69/30Non-permanently installed loading ramps, e.g. transportable

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)

Abstract

A portable ramp assembly has a body 3 with an inclined channel 5 and an extension channel 11 which is hingedly mounted by spigots 12 and 13 on the extension 11 co-operating with sockets 8 and 9 in opposed side walls 7 of the body 3. The channels 5 and 11 provide a track along which a wheel e.g. of a wheel chair can roll to mount a step 30. The spigots 12 and 13 are formed at the ends of a corrugated walled shaft 41 so that the shaft 41 can be compressed axially and subsequently recover to facilitate engagement of the spigots 12 and 13 with their respective sockets 8 and 9. Relative rotation between the ramp part 1 and channel 11 permits the assembly to be adjusted for steps 30 of different height. The shaft 41 is exposed between adjacent ends 6A, 11A of the channels 5 and 11 to present a transition surface between the channels over which a wheel can roll smoothly from one channel to the other. The assembly can be folded to a condition in which the extension channel 11 is accommodated within a recess in the underside of the ramp part 1. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE "A portable ramp assembly" TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND ART The present invention relates to a portable ramp assembly and is particularly concerned with such an assembly which provides a convenient ramp along which a wheel of a conveyance may roll to facilitate movement of the conveyance over a step or similar obstacle. During use of wheelchairs, perambulators, wheelbarrows and similar wheeled conveyances, there is frequently need for a ramp to assist in movement of the conveyance over a step or similar obstacle. In such cases it is usual for operatives of the conveyance to improvise and provide a ramp from whatever materials may be available, such as a plank of wood.
These improvised ramps are often unstable and usually do not permit a smooth transition for rolling movement of the conveyance between different height surfaces which the ramp bridges; this is particularly so where a ramp is required to facilitate wheeled movement over an obstacle from a lower to a higher level and initial engagement of the ramp by the wheel can often cause the ramp to be displaced.
There is therefore a requirement for a ramp assembly which alleviates the aforementioned difficulties and which is of a relatively simple structure that lends itself to inexpensive manufacture and is portable to be readily available as required.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION & ADVANTAGES According to the present invention there is provided a portable ramp assembly comprising a ramp part having a base on which that part can stand on a horizontal support surface and a first wheel guide channel which is inclined relative to said base, said first guide channel having a lower end which provides a substantially smooth transition for rolling movement of a wheel between the support surface and that channel; an extension part hingedly connected to the ramp part for partial axial rotation relative thereto, the extension part having a second wheel guide channel which, with the base standing on a horizontal support surface, is maintained by the hinge connection in a common vertical plane with the first channel, said second channel extending from an upper end of the first channel and a substantially smooth transition being provided for rolling movement of a wheel between the two wheel guide channels and wherein hinged movement between the ramp and extension parts permits the assembly to accommodate for different heights over which a wheel can be rolled along the successive channels.
The portable ramp assembly of the present invention was primarily developed for wheelchair users and in such case a pair of assemblies can be made available for spaced location over, say, a pavement curb, to provide parallel ramps along which the wheels of the chair can roll over the obstacle. It will, of course, be appreciated that a single ramp assembly will suffice for single wheeled conveyances such as a wheelbarrow.In each case however in positioning the ramp assembly for use, the base of the ramp part will stand on a lower support surface adjacent to the obstacle while the extension part is rotated about the hinge connection and adjusted to bear on an upper support surface over the obstacle so that a stable ramp is presented by the guide channels to a wheel which can be rolled smoothly from the lower support surface on to the guide channel of the ramp part and subsequently up the ramp and from the guide channel of the extension part over the obstacle.
Preferably the ramp and extension parts are formed as plastics mouldings so that they can be manufactured relatively inexpensively and yet be relatively light in weight, robust, durable and of a design which is aesthetically acceptable for the assembly to be maintained readily available, say, to wheelchair users.
The hinged connection between the ramp part and the extension part is conveniently formed as a shaft on one of those parts which is received between opposed side walls of the other part so that axially opposed ends of the shaft engage in socket and spigot relationship respectively with the opposed side walls. This socket and spigot engagement conveniently provides plain bearings for the relative rotation between the two parts. Preferably the shaft is variable in its axial length whereby it can be shortened temporarily to facilitate its location between the opposed side walls and lengthened to engage the respective sockets and spigots.With plastics moulded components the shaft may have a part length portion which is profiled, for example by being of a tubular corrugated structure, to flex axially in response to pressure applied axially thereto and thereby shorten the shaft length for engagement of the sockets and spigots. By use of appropriate plastics material it will be appreciated that following such shortening of the shaft, the latter may recover under its natural resilience to increase its length and engage the sockets and spigots. The shaft may be provided on the ramp part or the extension part, preferably it is provided on the latter with the ends of the shaft being formed as spigots which rotationally engage in apertures provided in opposed side walls of the ramp part.
During partial axial rotation of the ramp part relative to the extension part it is possible that the adjacent ends of the first and second wheel guide channels will be or become spaced from each other. With this in mind it is preferred that a peripheral portion of the aforementioned shaft is exposed between the adjacent ends of the two channels (when those adjacent ends are spaced from each other) so that the peripheral portion of the shaft presents a transition surface over which a wheel can roll smoothly in passing from one channel to the other.
When the hinge connection between the ramp and extension parts is effected by a shaft the ends of which engage in socket and spigot relationship between those parts, it is preferred that a securing means is provided to ensure that the socket and spigot engagement is maintained. This is particularly so where the shaft is variable in its axial length to alleviate the possibility of the two parts becoming dis-engaged by inadvertant axial contraction of the shaft during use of the ramp. A convenient means for maintaining the socket and spigot engagement when the axially flexible shaft is on the extension part is for the extension part to comprise a channel component having the second wheel guide channel and a shaft component which incorporates the shaft.These two components may be separable so that the shaft component can be first fitted to the ramp part for the respective socket and spigots to engage and the channel component is subsequently fitted to the shaft component to maintain the shaft at an axial length which retains the respective sockets and spigot in engagement.
To facilitate storage and carriage of the portable ramp assembly when not in use it is preferred that the extension part and ramp part are relatively rotatable to a folded condition in which the extension part closely overlies the ramp part. The base of the ramp part may be hollow or recessed and in the folded condition the extension part is preferably accommodated in the hollow or recess of the base.
During relative rotation between the ramp and extension parts for the extension part to be projected for use, it is preferred that the ramp and extension parts abut against each other to determine the limit of said rotation so that the assembly presents to a wheel a rigid ramp which may be used to bridge an obstacle height greater than that which could normally be accommodated by hinged movement between the ramp and extension parts. Usually the aforementioned abutment will occur to provide a rigid ramp when the two wheel guide channels are substantially coplanar to provide a rectilinear wheel track.
DRAWINGS One embodiment of a portable ramp assembly will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembly extended for use; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the assembly in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an end of a ramp part in the assembly to which end is to be fitted an extension part; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of an end of the extension part which is engaged with the end of the ramp part shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front elevation of the assembly, and Figure 6 is a side elevation of the assembly in section on the line VI - VI in Figure 5 and shows the assembly adjusted to a folded condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The ramp assembly illustrated is predominantly formed of plastics moulded components and comprises a ramp part 1 and an extension part 2. The ramp part 1 has a base 3 with an underside face 3A by which that part can stand with stability on a horizontal support surface such as a floor 4. Moulded into the ramp part 1 is a straight wheel guide channel 5 which is inclined relative to the underside face 3A of the base 3. The channel 5 has a lower end 6 adjacent to the floor 4 and which end is profiled to present a smooth transition for rolling movement of a wheel in its movement from the floor 4 onto and up the channel 5 towards its upper end 6A. The channel 5 comprises spaced side flanges 5A which are intended to maintain the wheel in the channel.The channel 5 is carried by opposed, generally triangular, upstanding side walls 7 of the base 3. Formed one in each of the side walls 7 at the end of the ramp part 1 remote from the channel end 6 are a pair of opposed circular apertures 8 and 9. The apertures 8 and 9 are co-axial with their axis extending at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the channel 5.
The extension part 2 comprises a shaft component 10 and a channel component 11 fitted thereto. The shaft component 10 is moulded to include a generally cylindrical shaft indicated at 41 axially opposite ends of which are formed as co-axial cylindrical spigots 12 and 13 that are complementary to the circular apertures 8 and 9 in the ramp part 1. The shaft component 2 also includes a pair of opposed mounting panels 14 and 15 which are spaced axially on the shaft 11 and project radially therefrom. The portion of the shaft 11 which extends axially between the mounting panels 14 and 15 is formed as a hollow moulding in the plastics material and has a corrugated wall structure 16 in which the corrugations lie in radial planes of the shaft 11 (see Figure 5).The corrugations 16 and resilience of the plastics material permit the length of the shaft 11 to be temporarily decreased in response to compressive force which is applied axially to opposite ends of the shaft (or to the mounting panels 14 and 15) causing the mounting panels and spigots 12 and 13 to be displaced axially towards each other. This latter displacement permits the mounting panels and the spigots to be located axially between the side walls 7 of the ramp part 1 for the spigots 12 and 13 to coincide with the apertures 8 and 9 so that, when the compressive force is released, the resilience of the plastics material in the corrugations 16 causes the spigots 12 and 13 to move into engagement with the cylindrical sockets provided by the apertures 8 and 9 respectively.The engagement of the spigots 12, 13 with the apertures 8, 9 forms a hinged connection by which the shaft component 10 can be rotated axially relative to the ramp part 1.
Provided one in each of the mounting panels 14 and 15 are a pair of opposed tracks 17 and 18. Following the aforementioned socket and spigot engagement between the shaft component 10 and the ramp part 1, the channel component 11 is fitted to the shaft component 10 by being received as a close sliding fit within the tracks 17 and 18. With the channel component 11 thus fitted, an inner end llA of the channel 11 is located adjacent to the upper channel end 6A and the channel 11 is secured to the mounting panels 14 and 15, conveniently by bolts or screws 19 which extend through apertures in the mounting panels to engage with upstanding flanges 20 on the channel component 11.The channel component 11 is of relatively rigid plastics and when fitted to the ramp component 10 prevents the latter component from being compressed axially thereby ensuring that the spigots 12 and 13 are maintained in engagement with the sockets 8 and 9. As will be realised from Figures 3 and 4, the mounting panels 14 and 15 are provided with part cylindrical convex profiles 21 which are co-axial with the shaft 11 and these profiles 21 are received as a sliding fit within complementary concave profiles 22 presented by the ramp part 1. The shaft component 10 includes a bracket 23 which is located axially between the mounting panels 14 and 15 and projects radially from the shaft 41. The bracket 23 extends to underlie the channel component 11 to provide additional support for that component and may be secured thereto by bolts or screws not shown.The bracket 23 has a part cylindrical convex profile 24 which is co-axial with the shaft 11 and is slidably received within a complementary concave bearing surface 25 presented by the ramp part 1 as shown in Figure 3. The co-operating bearing surfaces 8, 9, 12, 13, 21, 22, 24 and 25 provide a stable hinged connection between the ramp part 1 and extension part 2 whereby the two parts can be rotated axially relative to each other while the channel 5 and the straight channel provided by the component 11 are maintained in a common plane.
Consequently, in use of the ramp assembly and with the base 3 of the ramp part 1 standing on the floor 4, the extension part 2 can be rotated relative to the ramp part to rest on, for example, a step 30 which rises from the floor 4 so that the rectilinear channels 5 and 11 provide a ramp along which a wheel can roll to provide a smooth transition from the floor 4 to surmount the step 30.
During relative rotation between the ramp part and the extension part the upper end 6A of the channel 5 will be, or become, spaced from the inner end llA of the channel component 11 as shown in Figure 1. When such spacing between the ends 6A and IlA occurs, the generally cylindrical, albeit corrugated, peripheral surface of the shaft 41 is exposed between the channel ends 6A and llA and presents a transition surface over which a wheel can roll smoothly in its movement from one channel to the other.
It will be appreciated from Figure 2 that the rotational adjustment between the ramp part 1 and extension part 2 permits the assembly to be adjusted for various heights of step 30. However, if the step 30 is of an excessive height, a straight rigid ramp may be more convenient, or required, to surmount the step. With this in mind the ramp part 1 and extension part 2 are provided with shoulders 42 and 43 respectively (see Figures 1, 3 and 4) which at a predetermined position of angular adjustment between the two parts move into abutment with each other and thereby limit the hinged movement of the assembly.
Preferably the shoulders 42 abut the shoulders 43 when the channels 5 and 11 are coplanar and rectilinear. The ramp assembly can then bridge between the top of a high step 30 and the floor 4 with only the end region of the base 3 adjacent to the channel end 6 contacting the floor 4 and the channels of the ramp assembly will present a straight rigid track along which a wheel can roll between the upper and lower floor surfaces.
The base 3 of the ramp part 1 is of a generally hollow structure and is open in its underside face 3A to provide a recess 45. To facilitate storage and carriage of the assembly when not in use, it can be adjusted to a folded condition in which the extension part 2 is rotated relative to the ramp part 1 so that the channel component 11 underlies the ramp part and is received within the recess 45 as shown in Figure 6.

Claims (16)

1. A portable ramp assembly comprising a ramp part having a base on which that part can stand on a horizontal support surface and a first wheel guide channel which is inclined relative to said base, said first guide channel having a lower end which provides a substantially smooth transition for rolling movement of a wheel between the support surface and that channel; an extension part hingedly connected to the ramp part for partial axial rotation relative thereto, the extension part having a second wheel guide channel which, with the base standing on a horizontal support surface, is maintained by the hinge connection in a common vertical plane with the first channel, said second channel extending from an upper end of the first channel and a substantially smooth transition being provided for rolling movement of a wheel between the two wheel guide channels and wherein hinged movement between the ramp and extension parts permits the assembly to accommodate for different heights over which a wheel can be rolled along the successive channels.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the hinged connection between the ramp part and the extension part comprises a shaft on one part received between opposed side walls of the other part with axially opposed ends of the shaft engaging in socket and spigot relationship with the opposed side walls, said socket and spigot engagement providing bearings for the relative rotation.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the shaft is variable in its axial length whereby it can be shortened to facilitate its location between the opposed side walls and lengthened to engage the respective sockets and spigots.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which the shaft is of resilient material and has a part length portion which is profiled to flex in response to compressive pressure applied axially thereto to shorten the shaft length to facilitate said engagement between the respective sockets and spigots.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the part length portion of the shaft is tubular and has a peripheral profile of corrugated formation which flexes axially to permit said length variation.
6. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 in which the shaft is provided on the extension part and said ends of the shaft are formed as spigots which rotationally engage in sockets provided in opposed side walls of the ramp part.
7. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 and comprising securing means for retaining the respective sockets and spigots in engagement.
8. An assembly as claimed in claims 6 and 7 when appendant to claim 3 in which the extension part comprises a channel component having the second wheel guide channel and a shaft component incorporating the shaft, said components being separable whereby the shaft of the shaft component is first fitted to the ramp part for the respective sockets and spigots to engage and said channel component is subsequently fitted to the shaft component to maintain the shaft at an axial length which retains the respective sockets and spigots in engagement.
9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 when -appendant to claim 5 in which said channel component is relatively rigid and when fitted to the shaft component restrains the shaft from flexing axially to maintain the sockets and spigots in engagement.
10. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9 in which a peripheral portion of the shaft is exposed between the adjacent ends of the two channels during rotational adjustment between the ramp part and the extension part and presents a transition surface over which a wheel can roll smoothly in passing from one channel to the other.
11. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the extension part and ramp part are relatively rotatable to a folded condition in which the extension part closely underlies the ramp part.
12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 in which the base of the ramp part is recessed in an underside surface thereof and in the folded condition the extension part is substantially accommodated in said recess.
13. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which relative rotation between the ramp part and extension part is restricted by shoulders on the two parts moving into abutment whereby the two channels present a relatively rigid track to a wheel which may roll over a bridging ramp formed thereby.
14. An assembly as claimed in claim 14 in which the shoulders abut so that a substantially rectilinear rigid track is presented by the two channels.
15. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the ramp part and extension part comprise plastics mouldings.
16. A portable ramp assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.
GB9120509A 1991-09-26 1991-09-26 Portable ramp Withdrawn GB2259903A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9120509A GB2259903A (en) 1991-09-26 1991-09-26 Portable ramp

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9120509A GB2259903A (en) 1991-09-26 1991-09-26 Portable ramp

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9120509D0 GB9120509D0 (en) 1991-11-06
GB2259903A true GB2259903A (en) 1993-03-31

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GB9120509A Withdrawn GB2259903A (en) 1991-09-26 1991-09-26 Portable ramp

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6430769B1 (en) * 2000-10-27 2002-08-13 Richard D. Allen Wheelchair ramp with keyway joint
US8544130B2 (en) * 2010-07-14 2013-10-01 Rite-Hite Holding Corporation Curved transition plates for pivotal dock leveler decks

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1170745A (en) * 1965-10-21 1969-11-12 James Szamaj Sieder Improvements in or relating to Dock Boards
GB1282566A (en) * 1968-11-28 1972-07-19 P C & C K Chase Ltd A container loading ramp
US3984891A (en) * 1974-11-12 1976-10-12 Valley Craft Products, Inc. Portable ramp
GB1572466A (en) * 1978-01-26 1980-07-30 Partt B Ramps
GB2116940A (en) * 1982-03-16 1983-10-05 Charles Neill Collapsible ramp
US4771839A (en) * 1986-06-05 1988-09-20 Sunwa Sharyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Stair-climbing wheelchair carrier
GB2238289A (en) * 1989-11-24 1991-05-29 Roy Stuart Kellett A ramp

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1170745A (en) * 1965-10-21 1969-11-12 James Szamaj Sieder Improvements in or relating to Dock Boards
GB1282566A (en) * 1968-11-28 1972-07-19 P C & C K Chase Ltd A container loading ramp
US3984891A (en) * 1974-11-12 1976-10-12 Valley Craft Products, Inc. Portable ramp
GB1572466A (en) * 1978-01-26 1980-07-30 Partt B Ramps
GB2116940A (en) * 1982-03-16 1983-10-05 Charles Neill Collapsible ramp
US4771839A (en) * 1986-06-05 1988-09-20 Sunwa Sharyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Stair-climbing wheelchair carrier
GB2238289A (en) * 1989-11-24 1991-05-29 Roy Stuart Kellett A ramp

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6430769B1 (en) * 2000-10-27 2002-08-13 Richard D. Allen Wheelchair ramp with keyway joint
US8544130B2 (en) * 2010-07-14 2013-10-01 Rite-Hite Holding Corporation Curved transition plates for pivotal dock leveler decks

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9120509D0 (en) 1991-11-06

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