GB2291396A - Stowable Ramp Apparatus - Google Patents
Stowable Ramp Apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2291396A GB2291396A GB9414370A GB9414370A GB2291396A GB 2291396 A GB2291396 A GB 2291396A GB 9414370 A GB9414370 A GB 9414370A GB 9414370 A GB9414370 A GB 9414370A GB 2291396 A GB2291396 A GB 2291396A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- ramp
- arm
- stowable
- vehicle
- frame
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
- B60P1/43—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle
- B60P1/431—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle the ramp being stored under the loading floor when not in use
Abstract
Stowable or retractable ramp apparatus (2, Fig 3, not shown) for providing access to a vehicle (4), comprising a ramp (6), a stowing frame 8 which is for securing underneath the vehicle (4) and connecting means 10 for connecting the ramp (6) to the stowing frame 8 such that the ramp (6) is able to be pulled out from the stowing frame or pushed back in when required. The connecting means 10 comprises a pair of pivoting arm arrangements 26 positioned on opposite sides of the ramp (6). Each pivoting arm arrangement 26 comprises a first arm 28, a second arm 30 and a piston device 32. The two arms are pivotally joined with the first arm sliding in the frame 8 and the second arm pivotally attached also to the ramp. The piston device 32, which is preferably gas operated assists pivoting of the second arm 30. Preferably, the second arm/ramp pivot is a slidable pivot 42. Preferably, the two arms are friction locked together, 56, during operation. <IMAGE>
Description
STOWABLE RAMP APPARATUS
This invention relates to stowable ramp apparatus.
Stowable ramp apparatus for providing access to a vehicle is known. The known stowable rantp apparatus comprises a ramp, a stowing frame which is for securing underneath the vehicle and which receives thule ramp when the ramp is not in use, and connecting means for connecting the ramp to the stowing frame such the ramp is able to be pulled out from the stowing frame when the ramp is needed to be used and pushed back into the stowing frame when the ramp is not needed to be used.
In the known stowable ramp apparatus, the connecting means is poorly designed and much effort is needed by an operator in order manually to lift the ramp to its operative position in which one end o the ramp rests on an edge portion of the vehicle, and the other end of the ramp rests on the ground. Where the operator is an elderly person, then it is often impossible for the operator to do the required lifting.
The stowable ramp apparatus is often used for providing wheelchair access to a vehicle and so the person operating the stowable ramp apparatus is likely to be an elderly person driving his or her partner around. Thus the difficulty of lifting the ramp is a major problem for the majority of users of the stowable ramp apparatus. Even relatively young persons find it difficult to lift the ramp because the ramp has to be lifted with a bent back, often with the person trying to straddle the ramp.
It will be appreciated from the above that the known stowable ramp apparatus provides considerably problems in use. In spite of the considerable problems and the fact that the known stowable ramp apparatus has been available for a number of years, a solution to the problems has not hitherto been available. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a solition to the problems.
Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided stowable ramp apparatus for providing access to a vehicle, which stowable ramp apparatus comprises a ramp, a stowing frame which is for securing underneath the vehicle and which receives the ramp when the ramp is not in use, and connecting means for connecting the ramp to the stowing frame such that the ramp is able to be pulled out from the stowing frame when the ramp is needed to be used and pushed back into the stowing frame when the ramp is not needed to be used, the connecting means being such that it comprises a pair of pivoting arm arrangements positioned on opposite sides of the ramp, and each pivoting arm arrangement being such that it comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a piston device, the first arm being slidably mounted at a first end portion such that it is slideable in the stowing frame, the first arm being pivotally connected at a second end portion to a first end portion of the second arm, the second arm having a second end portion which is pivotally connected to the ramp, and the piston device being such that it assists the pivoting motion of the second arm for the purpose of facilitating manual lifting of the ramp to an operative position in which one end of the ramp rests on an edge portion of the vehicle.
The provision in the stowable ramp apparatus of the present invention of the first and the second arms and the piston device makes lifting of the ramp vastly easier than in the above mentioned known stowable ramp apparatus, and thus all persons but especially elderly persons will find it easier to lift the ramp. Also, in replacing the ramp in the stowing frame, the piston device helps to steady the ramp and the ramp is not liable suddenly to fall and possibly pinch fingers, as occurs with the known stowable ramp apparatus.
Preferably, the stowable ramp apparatus of the present invention is one in which the piston device is a gas operated piston device. Other types of piston devices may be employed if desired.
The first and the second arms may have first fixing means for fixing the first and the second arms in position when it is desired to push the ramp into the stowing frame when the ramp is not needed to be used.
Preferably, the fixing means comprises an abutment portion on the first arm for mating with an abutment portion on the second arm. Preferably, the abutment portion on the second arm is provided on the first end portion of the second arm. The abutment portion may however be positioned elsewhere if desired.
The stowable ramp apparatus may include a locking device for locking together the two abutment portions.
The locking device may be a spring loaded ball and socket device or friction pads.
The stowable ramp apparatus may be one in which the ramp and the first arm have second fixing means for fixing the ramp and the first arm in position when it is desired to push the ramp into the stowing frame when the ramp is not needed to be used. The second fixing means may be such that the ramp has a recessed portion for receiving a male portion on the second end portion of the first arm. Alternatively, the reverse arrangement may be employed in which the ramp has the male portion and the second end portion of the first arm has the female portion.
The first arm will usually have at least one wheel for enabling it to slide in the stowing frame.
The second end portion of the second arm may have a spring arrangement for enabling the end of the ramp resting on the edge of the vehicle to move up and down for adjustment purposes when the ramp is in use.
The stowable ramp apparatus may be one in which the connecting means forms a part of a sliding sub-frame which slides in the stowing frame.
Usually, the ramp will be such that it has a pair of upstanding side walls.
Also usually, the stowing frame will have a pair of side channels, each side channel being for receiving the first end of the first arm.
The stowing frame may be secured underneath the vehicle in any suitable and appropriate manner, for example in the manner in which the stowing frame is secured underneath the vehicle in the above mentioned known stowable ramp apparatus.
The present invention also extends to a vehicle when provided with the stowable ramp apparatus.
The vehicle is preferably such that the stowable ramp apparatus provides side access to the vehicle. End access to the vehicle may however alteanatively be provided. The vehicle may be any suitable and appropriate type of vehicle. In addition to providing access to wheelchairs, the stowable ramp apparatus can be used for providing easy access to the vehicle for other purposes such for example as loading the vehicle with any suitable and appropriate type of goods.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates known stowable ramp apparatus;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of connecting means employed in the stowable ramp apparatus shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows stowable ramp apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of connecting means employed in the stowable ramp apparatus shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows the connecting means of Figure 4 in a straight line for the purpose of pushing a ramp back into a stowing frame;
Figure 6 is a view like Figure 5 but part of Figure 5 has been removed in order to show more operating parts;
Figure 7 is a plan view of a sub-frame which includes the connecting means;
Figure 8 is a plan view of the ramp;
Figure 9 is a side view of the ramp as shown in
Figure 8;;
Figure 10 is an end view of the ramp as shown in
Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a plan view of the stowing frame;
Figure 12 is an end view of the stowing frame as shown in Figure 11; and
Figure 13 is a side view of the stowing frame shown in Figure 11.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown known stowable ramp apparatus 2 for providing side access to a vehicle 4. The stowable ramp apparatus 2 comprises a ramp 6, a stowing frame 8 which is secured underneath the vehicle 4 and which receives the ramp 6 when the ramp 6 is not in use, and connecting means 10 for connecting the ramp 6 to the stowing frame 8 such that the ramp 6 is able to be pulled out from the stowing frame 8 when the ramp 6 is needed to be used, and pushed back into the stowing frame 8 when the ramp 6 is not needed to be used.
As can be seen from Figure 1, a person 12 is required to straddle the ramp 6 and lift it with a bent back such that one end 14 of the ramp 6 is lifted to rest on an edge portion 16 of the vehicLe 4. The lifting requires considerable effort on the part of the person 12. If the person 12 is old or infirm, then the person 12 may not be able to lift the end 14 of the ramp 6, or may injure himself or herself in the process. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the connecting means 10 comprises an arm 18 which is pivotally connected by a pivot 20 to the ramp 6 and which is connected at its other end to a wheel 22. The wheel 22 slides in a channel 24 in the stowing frame 8, with the arm 18 being offset from the wheel 22 such that the arm 18 runs alongside the channel 24.
Referring now to Figures 3 - 13, similar parts as in Figures 1 and 2 have been given the same reference numbers for ease of comparison and urderstanding.
Referring particularly to Figure 3, it wil] be seen by the use of a different connecting means 10, the person 12 is able to stand at the end of the ramp, 6 and much more easily lift the ramp 6 into the position in which the end 14 of the ramp 6 is resting on the edge portion 16 of the vehicle 4.
Figure 4 shows how the connecting means 10 is such that it comprises a pair of pivoting arm arrangements 26 positioned on opposite sides of the ramp 6. Each pivoting arm arrangement 26 is such that it comprises a first arm 28, a second arm 30 and a piston device 32.
The first arm 28 is slidably mounted at a first end portion 34 such that t is slideable in the stowing frame 8.
The first arm 28 is pivotally connected at a second end portion 36 to a first end portion 38 of the second arm 30. The pivotal connection is by means of a pivot 39. The second arm 30 has a second end portion 40 which is pivotally connected by a pivot 42 to the lamp 6. The pivot 42 slides in a slot 44 formed in an upstanding side wall 46 of the ramp 6.
The piston device 32 comprises a piston in the form of a rod 48 which extends from a cylinder 50. The piston device 32 is gas operated. The piston device 32 is such that it assists the pivoting mot.ion of the second arm 30 for the purpose of facilitating the manual lifting by the person 12 of the ramp 6 frorn its stowed position underneath the vehicle 4 to its operative position in which the end 14 of the ramp 6 is lifted to rest on the edge portion 16 of the vehicle 4.
The first and the second arms 28, 30 have fixing means in the form of an abutment portion 52 on the first arm and an abutment portion 54 on the first end portion 38 of the second arm 30. The two abutment portions 52, 54 abut each other when the first and the second arms 28, 30 are in line as shown in Figure 5 and it is desired to push the ramp 6 into the stowing frame 8 when the ramp 5 is not needed to be used. A locking device 56 is provided to lock the abutment portions 52, 54 together. As will be appreciated from Figure 4, the abutment portion 52 in end view would be seen as extending proud of an adjacent portion 58 of the first arm 28.
The ramp 6 and the first arm 28 have second fixing means 60 for fixing the ramp 6 and the first arm 28 in position when it is desired to push the ramp 6 into the stowing frame 8 when the ramp 6 is not needed to be used. The second fixing means 60 is formed by a recessed portion 62 on the end of the ramp 6, and a complementary male portion formed on the end of the second portion 36 of the first arm 28. Figure 4 shows the unlocked position of the second fixing means 60, whilst Figure 6 shows the locked position of the second fixing means 60.
As can be seen from Figures 4, 5 and 6, the first arm 28 is provided with the offset wheel 22 for enabling the first arm 28 to slide alongside the channel 24 in the stowing frame 8. The first arm 28 is also provided with a stop member 29 for resting on part of the stowing frame 8 and for supporting the first arm 28 during operation of the piston device 32.
Figures 4 and 5 show how the second end portion 40 of the second arm 30 has a spring arrangement 66 including a spring 68 for enabling the end 14 of the ramp 6 resting on the edge portion 16 of the vehicle 4 to move up and down for adjustment purposes when the ramp 6 is in use. This stops the end 14 ot the ramp 6 extending too high above the edge portion 16 which forms part of the floor of the vehicle 4.
Figure 7 illustrates how the two pivoting arm arrangements 26 are formed as part of a sliding subframe 70.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 show how the ramp 6 has the upstanding side walls 46. Figures 9 and 10 also illustrate how the ramp 6 is provided with a downwardly depending locating lip 72. Figure 8 also shows how the ramp 6 is provided with a locking pin 73 for use in locking the ramp 6 to the edge portion 16 during use of the ramp 6 in order to ensure that the ramp 6 does not inadvertently move. The locating lip 72 ensures that when the ramp 6 is resting on the edge portion 16, the ramp 6 is correctly located for enabling the locking pin 76 to locate in a hole (not shown) in the edge portion 16.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 show how the stowing frame 8 is rectangular in plan as is required by the rectangular shape of the ramp 6. The stowing frame 8 has a pair of side members 74 which each contain one of the channels 24.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, another type of piston device 32 may be employed. Also, the shape of the stowing frame 8 may be varied, and a different type of stop member 29 may be employed.
Claims (17)
1. Stowable ramp apparatus for providing access to a vehicle, which stowable ramp apparatus comprises a ramp, a stowing frame which is for securing underneath the vehicle and which receives the ramp when the ramp is not is use, and connecting means for connecting the ramp to the stowing frame such that the ramp is able to be pulled out from the stowing frame when the ramp is needed to be used and pushed back into the stowing frame when the ramp is not needed to be used, the connecting means being such that it comprises a pair of pivoting arm arrangements positioned on opposite sides of the ramp, and each pivoting arm arrangement being such that it comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a piston device, the first arm being slidably mounted at a first end portion such that it is slideable in the stowing frame, the first arm being pivotally connected at a second end portion to a first end portion of the second arm, the second arm having a second end portion which is pivotally connected to the ramp, and the piston device being such that it assists the pivoting motion of the second arm for the purpose of facilitating manual lifting of the ramp to an operative position in which one end of the ramp rests on an edge portion of the vehicle.
2. Stowable ramp apparatus according to claim 1 in which the piston device is a gas operated piston device.
3. Stowable ramp apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the first and the second arms have first fixing means for fixing the first and the second arms in position when it is desired to push the ramp into the stowing frame when the ramp is not needed to be used.
4. Stowable ramp apparatus according to claim 3 in which the fixing means comprises an abutment portion on the first arm for mating with an abutment portion on the second arm.
5. Stowable ramp apparatus according to claim 4 in which the abutment portion on the second arm is provided on the first end portion of the second arm.
6. Stowable ramp apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 and including a locking device for locking together the two abutment portions.
7. Stowable ramp apparatus according to claim 6 in which the locking device is a spring loaded ball and socket device, or friction pads.
8. Stowable ramp apparatus according to any one of claims 3-7 in which the ramp and the first arm have second fixing means for fixing the ramp and the first arm in position when it is desired to push the ramp into the stowing frame when the ramp is not needed to be used.
9. Stowable ramp apparatus according to claim 8 in which the second fixing means is such that the ramp has a recessed portion for receiving a male portion on the second end portion of the first arm.
10. Stowable ramp apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first arm has at least one wheel for enabling the first arm to slide in the stowing frame.
11. Stowable ramp apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second end portion of the second arm has a spring arrangement for enabling the end of the ramp resting on the edge of the vehicle to move up and down for adjustment purposes when the ramp is in use.
12. Stowable ramp apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the connecting means forms a part of a sliding sub-frame which slides in the stowing frame.
13. Stowable ramp apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ramp is such that it has a pair of upstanding side walls.
14. Stowable ramp apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the stowing frame has a pair of side channels, each side channel being for receiving the first end of the first arm.
15. Stowable ramp apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. A vehicle when provided with the stowable ramp apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
17. A vehicle according to claim 16 and which is such that the stowable ramp apparatus provides side access to the vehicle.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9414370A GB2291396B (en) | 1994-07-15 | 1994-07-15 | Stowable ramp apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9414370A GB2291396B (en) | 1994-07-15 | 1994-07-15 | Stowable ramp apparatus |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9414370D0 GB9414370D0 (en) | 1994-09-07 |
| GB2291396A true GB2291396A (en) | 1996-01-24 |
| GB2291396B GB2291396B (en) | 1997-10-08 |
Family
ID=10758429
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9414370A Expired - Fee Related GB2291396B (en) | 1994-07-15 | 1994-07-15 | Stowable ramp apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2291396B (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1184025A3 (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2003-04-02 | Lohmann Apparatebau GmbH | Ramp for a door entry |
| FR2908092A1 (en) * | 2006-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | Solignat Sarl | Heavy object e.g. motor cycle, loading and unloading device for e.g. trailer, has guiding unit guiding ramp between two positions and bringing back ramp above floor, when ramp reaches loading/unloading position |
| WO2016145178A1 (en) * | 2015-03-10 | 2016-09-15 | Presby Patent Trust | Loading/unloading device for a delivery vehicle |
| WO2019058316A3 (en) * | 2017-09-21 | 2019-05-31 | Takler S.R.L. | Loading ramp and the vehicle thereof comprising said ramp |
| US11364834B2 (en) | 2020-11-10 | 2022-06-21 | David William PRESBY | Loading/unloading device for a delivery vehicle |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN109017909A (en) * | 2018-07-17 | 2018-12-18 | 张永娟 | A kind of medicament transport vehicle |
| JP7299070B2 (en) * | 2019-06-03 | 2023-06-27 | 株式会社アイシン | Vehicle slope device |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4759682A (en) * | 1987-05-06 | 1988-07-26 | Transpec Inc. | Vehicle entrance ramp |
| US5253410A (en) * | 1991-04-08 | 1993-10-19 | Magline, Inc. | Retractable underbody truck ramp and method of making |
| US5340267A (en) * | 1991-12-17 | 1994-08-23 | Overhead Door Corporation | Retractable vehicle ramp with lift assist |
-
1994
- 1994-07-15 GB GB9414370A patent/GB2291396B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4759682A (en) * | 1987-05-06 | 1988-07-26 | Transpec Inc. | Vehicle entrance ramp |
| US5253410A (en) * | 1991-04-08 | 1993-10-19 | Magline, Inc. | Retractable underbody truck ramp and method of making |
| US5340267A (en) * | 1991-12-17 | 1994-08-23 | Overhead Door Corporation | Retractable vehicle ramp with lift assist |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1184025A3 (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2003-04-02 | Lohmann Apparatebau GmbH | Ramp for a door entry |
| FR2908092A1 (en) * | 2006-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | Solignat Sarl | Heavy object e.g. motor cycle, loading and unloading device for e.g. trailer, has guiding unit guiding ramp between two positions and bringing back ramp above floor, when ramp reaches loading/unloading position |
| WO2016145178A1 (en) * | 2015-03-10 | 2016-09-15 | Presby Patent Trust | Loading/unloading device for a delivery vehicle |
| US10576863B2 (en) | 2015-03-10 | 2020-03-03 | Presby Patent Trust | Loading/unloading device for a delivery vehicle |
| US11161445B2 (en) | 2015-03-10 | 2021-11-02 | David William PRESBY | Loading/unloading device for a delivery vehicle |
| WO2019058316A3 (en) * | 2017-09-21 | 2019-05-31 | Takler S.R.L. | Loading ramp and the vehicle thereof comprising said ramp |
| US11364834B2 (en) | 2020-11-10 | 2022-06-21 | David William PRESBY | Loading/unloading device for a delivery vehicle |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2291396B (en) | 1997-10-08 |
| GB9414370D0 (en) | 1994-09-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20000715 |