GB2350098A

GB2350098A - Skip ladder-ramp

Info

Publication number: GB2350098A
Application number: GB9911621A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Andrew Colville; Alan Stanley Barton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-20
Filing date: 1999-05-20
Publication date: 2000-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-20
Also published as: GB2350098B; GB9911621D0

Abstract

A skip ladder-ramp comprising "v" shaped cross-rungs 3 fixed between two parallel side supports 1 angled at the top to the horizontal allowing a wheel barrow to free-stand and forming an elbow 2 which rests on a skip. The ladder-ramp is of sufficient stiffness to prevent bouncing, with a cross-rung 8 fixed across the underside to overhang the edge of the skip preventing the ramp sliding off the skip. The two upper end-most rungs 7 are inverted and spaced to enable the wheelbarrow's wheel to drop onto a third rung 9 on the underside of the parallel side supports, trapping the wheel to prevent over-running. The bottom three cross-rungs 4, 5, 6 are inverted and positioned graduated to provide ready mounting of the ramp by minimising risk of wheelbarrow's wheel-guard striking higher cross-rungs. The "v" shaped rungs ensure maximum footwear grip by preventing build-up of spillage material.

Description

2350098 SKIP LADDER-RAMP This invention relates to a ramp of a type which

facilitates the safe and easy loading of metal waste disposal skips through tipping from a wheelbarrow.

Although skips have been in common use for many years there is no purposebuilt ramp available for users who must either re-shovel the wheelbarrow's contents into the skip or improvise a ramp from planks.

Re-shovelling the load into the skip has the obvious disadvantage of doubling the shovelling workload, while improvised plank ramps are inherently dangerous to the user.

A single plank is too narrow and the user risks stepping off the side. This often necessitates the user placing two or more planks together. However, their springing motion makes them unstable under load as they can bounce up and down causing them to move forwards, backwards and sideways. The user risks serious personal injury and damage to property if the planks fall off the skip during tipping, or the wheelbarrow's wheel slips between two planks.

Rain, loose material spilled from the wheelbarrow, or mud from the user's footwear, make the plank slippery and difficult to climb. Wet and muddy planks blend with the colour of the ground below, making the plank difficult to see and, therefore, unsafe for the user.

The wheelbarrow obscures the user's view of the plank ahead so he does not know when he has reached the top end of the plank. The user risks pushing the wheelbarrow off the end of the plank into the skip or tipping early, spilling the load partially onto the plank or the surrounding ground.

Even where the user has correctly guessed the correct place to stop at the top end of the plank, he has to struggle to hold the weight of the wheelbarrow on a steep incline whilst trying to raise the handles and tip the load into the skip The purpose of the invention is to enable the user of the ramp to tip a heavily laden wheelbarrow into a skip both safely and easily.

The ramp is made from a series of "V" shaped cross-rungs fixed between two parallel side supports. These rungs ensure maximum grip fpr the user by preventing build-up of spillage from the barrow or the footyear of the user.

2 The ramp is brightly coloured for high visibility and sufficiently wide to prevent misplaced footfalls.

The ramp is stiff to prevent it bouncing and moving sideways, and specifically designed to prevent it slipping forwards or backwards under load.

The bottom three cross-rungs of the ramp are inverted and graduated to assist the barrow's wheel to run up onto the ramp without the wheel guard bar banging into rungs further up the ramp.

The top of the ramp is horizontal to ensure that the user does not have to struggle against the weight of the barrow when tipping the load.

At the end of the top of the ramp is a wheel trap which prevents the wheelbarrow over-running the end of the ramp. The wheel trap also allows the wheelbarrow to be rested down in a horizontal position enabling the user to adjust body position and grip on the handles to facilitate tipping of the load.

Preferably the ramp is made of metal, aluminium or other metal alloys, but it may instead be made from wood, plastic or other material of sufficient stiffness, strength and durability.

The ramp is preferably brightly painted for maximum visibility, but it may instead be inherently coloured through the material used, such as plastic.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows an isometric view of the whole ramp FIGURE 2 shows a side elevation of the whole ramp FIGURE 3 shows an isometric view of the bottom of the ramp FIGURE 4 shows a side elevation of the bottom of the ramp FIGURE 5 shows an isometric view of the top of the ramp FIGURE 6 shows a side elevation of the bottom of the ramp 3 As shown in Figure 1, the ramp comprises two parallel side supports 1 which bend at elbow 2 to ensure that the top of the ramp is in an horizontal position when in place on a skip.

Figures 2 & 3 show the positioning and angle of the 'V' shaped rungs3 which are fixed crossways between, and affixed to, the inner sides of the parallel side supports 1 Figure 3 & Figure 4 show the three bottom-most cross-rungs of theramp 4,5 & 6 which are inverted with graduated fixing points on the parallel side supports 1. These aid the wheel of the wheelbarrow to mount the ramp by minimising the risk of the wheelbarrow wheel-guard striking other crossrungs 3 further up the ramp. Cross-rungs 4,5,6 are inverted so should the wheelbarrow wheel-guard strike them, it will be deflected upwards ensuring the free onwards motion of the wheelbarrow.

Figure 5 & Figure 6 show the top of the ramp where the parallel side supports 1 are bent into a horizontal angled position at elbow bend 2.

In use, the bottom of the ramp is placed on the ground with the top of the ramp mounted on either end edge of the skip at the ramp's elbow bend 2. This elbow prevents the ramp from sliding forward on the edge of the skip when the wheelbarrow mounts the ramp.

Cross-rung 8 is a larger size than cross-rungs 3,4,5,6 & 7 and fixed on the underside of the parallel side supports 1, from outer edge to outer edge. It overhangs the inner edge of the end of the skip and prevents the ramp from sliding backwards off the skip.

Cross-rungs 7 & 9 comprise a wheel-trap which prevents the wheelbarrow over-running the end of the ramp. The wheel trap also allows the wheelbarrow to be rested down in a horizontal position enabling the user to adjust body position and grip on the handles to facilitate tipping of the load.

Cross-rungs 7 on the top end of the ramp are inverted and specifically spaced to ensure that the wheel of the wheelbarrow drops between them. Figure 6 shows cross-rung 9 positioned equidistant between rungs 7. Crossrung 9 is fixed to the underside of the parallel side supports 1, stretching from outer edge to outer edge and, together with cross-rungs 7, helps to support the weight of the loaded wheelbarrow.

4

Claims

1. A skip ladder-ramp including "v" shaped cross-rungs fixed between two parallel side supports yhere the bottom-most three cross-rungs are inverted and, graduatedto provide ready mounting of the ramp, where the top parallel side supports are angled to the horizontal with the end cross-rungs inverted and spaced to form a wheel- trap to prevent the overrunning the end of the ramp, and to enable the wheelbarrow to be readily tipped.

2. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in Claim 1 where the bottom three cross-rungs of the ramp are inverted and graduated to assist the wheelbarrow's wheel to run up onto the ramp by minimising the risk of the wheel-guard striking other cross-rungs further up the ramp.

3. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in Claim 1 where the top of the parallel side supports are angled to the horizontal forming an elbow which rests on the outer edge of the end of the skip, bearing the weight ofthe ramp and preventing it sliding forward.

4. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in Claim 1 where a 'V' shaped cross- rung is fixed across the underside of the upper horizontal section of the parallel side supports to overhang the inner edge of the end of the skip preventing the ramp from sliding backwards off the skip.

5. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in Claim 1 where the two upper end- most rungs are inverted and spaced apart so as to enable the wheel to drop onto a third rung fixed across the underside of the upper parallel side supports, trapping the wheel to prevent the wheelbarrow overrunning the end of the ramp, and supporting the weight of the loaded wheelbarrow.

6. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, aluminium or other metal alloys,plastics material or wood, or from a combination of these materials, of varying lengths and widths.

7. A skip ladder-ramp substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

5.

Amendments to the claims have becii filed as follows 1. A skip ladder-ramp including "v" shaped cross-rungs fixed between two parallel side supports wherein the bottom-most three cross-rungs are inverted and positioned graduated so as to provide ready mounting of the ramp, wherein the top parts of the parallel side supports are angled to lie horizontal with the top end cross-rungs inverted and spaced to form a wheel- trap to prevent the over-running the end of the ramp, and to enable a wheelbarrow to be readily tipped.

2. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the graduation of bottom three cross-rungs of the ramp are inverted and graduated to assist the wheelbarrow's wheel to run up onto the ramp by minimising the risk of the wheel-guard striking other cross-rungs further up the ramp.

3. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the angled top of the parallel side supports are angled to the horizontal forming an elbow which rests on the outer edge of the end of the skip, bearing the weight of the ramp and preventing it sliding forward.

4. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in Claim 1 where a "v" shaped er. ossrung is fixed across the underside of the upper horizontal section of the parallel Side'supports to overhang the inner edge of the end of the skip preventing the ramp from sliding backwards off the skip.

5. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the wheel trap is formed by the two upper end-most rungs which are inverted and spaced apart so as to enable the wheel to drop onto a third rung fixed across the underside of the upper parallel side supports, trapping the wheel to prevent the wheelbarrow over-running the end of the ramp, and supporting the weight of the loaded wheelbarrow.

6. A skip ladder-ramp as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, aluminium or other metal alloys, plastics material or wood, or from a combination of these materials, of varying lengths and widths.