GB2427645A

GB2427645A - Ladder with integral door stop for accessing rear opening of vehicle.

Info

Publication number: GB2427645A
Application number: GB0612536A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Cartwright
Original assignee: Cartwright & Sons S
Current assignee: Cartwright & Sons S
Priority date: 2005-06-24
Filing date: 2006-06-26
Publication date: 2007-01-03
Also published as: GB0612536D0; GB0512996D0

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for accessing a vehicle body (30) having a raised platform (32), an access opening (36) and a closure structure (37), comprises a mounting structure (2) fixed to the platform (32) within which an access structure (3) is movable. The access structure (3) is movable between stowed and operational positions and may comprise a ladder or other pathway. In the operational position, the access structure (or ladder) (3) extends downwardly from the platform (32) through the opening (36) of the vehicle body (30). An obstruction member (11) is moved into a position whereby it obstructs the closing of the closure structure (37) when the access structure (3) is moved to the operational position. The obstruction member (11) may be a pivoting finger or arm movable with the access structure (3). This arrangement prevents the vehicle door (37) from being closed in the opening (36) without first stowing the access structure (3) away in the vehicle body (30).

Description

APPARATUS FOR ACCESSING A VEHICLE BODY

The invention relates to an apparatus for accessing a vehicle loadcarrying body.

It is known to provide a vehicle load-carrying body with a ladder to facilitate access to a raised floor or a platform of the body through a closure structure opening. The ladder is movable between a stowed position, in which it is held within a mounting structure within the vehicle floor and an operational position in which it extends down from the floor towards an external ground surface.

With such known apparatus, there is a possibility of moving the vehicle with the closure structure opening closed and the ladder in the operational position whereby the ladder can be damaged or may cause a safety risk.

An object of the invention is to provide means for reducing or 1 5 preventing such damage and safety risk.

Accorciing to the invention therefore there is provided an apparatus accessing a vehicle load-carrying body having a raised platform, an access opening and a closure structure movable to close said opening, the apparatus comprising: a mounting structure adapted to be fixed relative to said platform; and an access structure movable relative to the mounting structure between a stowed position and an operational position; whereby in the operational position the access structure is arranged to extend down from the platform though the said opening, and wherein an obstruction member is provided, said member being moved into a protruding position to provide an obstruction to the closing of the opening with the closure structure when the access structure is moved to the operational position.

With this arrangement, due to the obstruction when the access structure is in the operational position, the closure structure of the vehicle body can be prevented from closing properly thereby acting as an alert to encourage stowing of the access structure before moving the vehicle.

Most preferably, the obstruction member is movable to extend at least partially outside the bounds of the vehicle body. Alternatively, the obstruction member may be movable to extend into the region of a periphery of the opening that the closure structure occupies when closed.

The obstruction member may comprise a finger or arm.

The obstruction member is preferably arranged to be moved from the protruding position to a non-obstructing retracted position when the access structure is moved to the stowed position.

1 5 Preferably, the obstruction member is movable as aforesaid by mechanical linkage with the access structure. The obstruction member may be pivotally movable relative to the mounting structure and may be mounted on a part of the mounting structure which may be close to the opening.

This part of the mounting structure may comprise a pivotally movable guide member which inter-engages with the access structure.

This guide member may comprise an open-ended box-shaped member through which the access structure is guided so as to pass therethrough and pivot therewith as the access structure is moved between stowed and operational positions.

The access structure preferably comprises a pathway, e.g. steps, a chute, a ladder. Most preferably the access structure is a ladder structure having side members and transverse rungs.

Preferably, a securing means is provided to retain the access structure in the stowed position. This may comprise a catch on the access structure engageable with an abutment surface of the mounting structure, particularly a gravity catch, whereby, a catch member drops downward behind the abutment surface when in the stowed position.

In the stowed position, the access structure may be stowed within the confines of the mounting structure, and may be recessed into the vehicle body platform.

1 0 In the operational position, the access structure preferably extends downwardly in inclined disposition terminating above a ground surface.

The access structure may be slidably mounted on the mounting structure.

Thus, the mounting structure may comprise a framework with 1 5 opposed channel members 4 defining runners for engagement with projecting parts of the access structure. The mounting structure may also comprise abutments for engagement with the projecting parts at opposite ends to limit travel of the access structure.

Movement between the positions may be facilitated manually by a handle on the access structure.

The apparatus is preferably used in a road vehicle load-carrying body which may be a trailer or lorry or a van or other body suitable for carrying loads, to aid access for loading and unloading of loads.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2a is a partial cross-sectional side view of the apparatus in a stowed position according to Figure 1; Figure 2b is a partial cross-sectional side view of the apparatus in an operational position according to Figure 1; Figure 3a is a perspective view of a mounting structure according to Figure 1; Figure 3b is a perspective view of an access structure according to Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic rear perspective view of a road vehicle load-carrying body fitted with the apparatus of Figures 1 -3.

As shown in Figure 4, a road vehicle load-carrying body 30 has a chassis mounted on road wheels 31. The chassis supports a floor structure 32 and side and end walls 33 and a roof 34 enclosing a load- carrying space 35. The body 30 may be a trailer arranged to be linked to a traction unit, or may be a lorry body with integral traction unit.

1 5 As shown in the drawing, the rear end wall has an access opening 36 with a door 37 which is hinged at one vertical edge 38. The door 37 is movable about its hinged edge between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position the door 37 covers the opening 36 and is substantially coplanar with the rear end wall. The door 37 can be locked in the closed position using slide bolts or the like which interengage between the door 37 and adjacent parts of the rear end wall.

As shown in Figure 1 an access apparatus 1 which comprises a mounting structure 2 and a ladder access structure 3 is fitted to the floor 32 of the vehicle body 30.

As shown in Figure 3a, the mounting structure 2 comprises an open rectangular frame having parallel channel members 4 at opposite long sides linked at their rear ends by a rear transverse bar 5 and at their front ends by an open box member 6 pivotally mounted on inverted L- shaped flanges 7 fixed to the front ends of the channel members 4.

The L-shaped flanges 7 have vertical webs 7a to which the box member 6 is mounted and outwardly directed horizontal webs 7b which lie in a common plane spaced above the hannel members 4.

The box member 6 has upper 6a and lower 6b parallel flat walls joined in spaced disposition by transverse end walls 6c defining a rectangular through passageway 8 between the walls.

As shown in Figure 1, pivot pins 9 extend through the confronting end walls 6c and vertical flange webs 7a.

One of said end walls 6c is attached to one end of a rod 10 which is bent at its opposite end portion to provide a transversely extending elongate finger 11. The rod 10 passes through an aperture 1 2 provided in the respective vertical flange web 7a to allow the elongate finger 9 to 1 5 pivot freely with the member 7, beyond the horizontal flange web 7b.

The two channel members 4 have openings 4a along their inner sides facing each other.

The flanges 7 are fixed to the forward ends of the channel members 4 with the box member 6 clear of such ends to allow pivotal movement of the box member 6 past the channel members 4. A gap 1 3 is defined between each forward end of the channel members 4 and the box member 6.

The ladder access structure 3 comprises two parallel spaced apart side members 14 having attached transversely therebetween a forward bar 1 5, two middle rungs 1 6 and a rearward end bar 1 7 extending parallel to each other. The end bar 1 7 has end extensions 1 7a which project outwardly beyond the side members 14. S -6-

As shown in Figure 2a, one of said side members 14 has a securing means in a forward region, comprising a rectangular catch plate 1 8 which is held captive to an inner face of the side member 14 by two bolts 19 respectively through forward and rearward apertures 20 in the catch plate 18 and corresponding holes in the side member 14. Washers are provided on both sides of the catch plate 18. The catch plate 18 has a chamfered corner 18a at a lower forward region of the catch plate 18.

The forward aperture 20 comprises a slot and the catch plate 1 8 is pivotally mounted on the rearward bolt 1 9 allowing the forward end of 1 0 the catch plate 1 8 to be movable by sliding of the forward bolt 1 9 relative to the respective slot-shaped aperture 20.

The forward end bar 15 has a handle 21 attached thereto on its front edge 1 5a.

The mounting structure 2 is recessed into the floor of the vehicle 1 5 body 30 next to the opening 36 i.e. such that the rectangular frame extends horizontally and longitudinally of the vehicle body 30, with the box member 6 within the opening 36 at the bottom edge thereof. The finger 11 protrudes through a slot provided in the floor of the vehicle body 30 close to the opening 36 and alongside the rectangular box member 6. A downwardly inclined support structure 22 projects freely of the floor 32 at the opening edge.

The ladder access structure 3 fits within the mounting structure 2 such that the end extensions 1 7a of the rear end bar 1 7 are slidably engaged within the channels 4 and the side members 14 pass through the box member 6 and are spaced inwardly of the channels 4.

The ladder access structure 3 can be pushed into the mounting structure 2 to a horizontal stowed position as shown in Figure 1, at which the rear end bar 1 7 of the access structure 3 abuts the rear transverse bar 5 of the mounting structure 2, the forward bar 1 5 is within the box member 6 and the handle 21 projects forwardly out of the box member 6.

In this stowed position, the securing means prevents the movement of the access structure 3. That is, the catch plate 18 drops under gravity so that the front end pivots down to locate the chamfered front corner 18a level with the lower wall 6b of the box member 6. The catch plate 18 then abuts such lower wall 6b to prevent forward movement of the access structure 3.

In this stowed position, the box member 6 is held, by inter- engagement with the forward bar 1 5 of the ladder access structure 3, with its side walls horizontal and the finger 11 of the rod 10 extending beyond the associated horizontal flange web 7b, pointing rearwardy and upwardly away from the opening 36.

1 5 The access structure 3 can be moved to an operational position by lifting the catch plate 1 8 so that it lies horizontally aligned with the through passage 8 of the box member 6 and pulling the handle 21.

Continuous pulling on the handle 21 causes the end extensions 17a to slide along the channel members 4 whilst the side members 14, forward end bar 15 and rungs 16 pass through the box member 6.

When the end extensions 1 7a reach the ends of the channel members 4 and pass into the gap 1 3 between the channel members 4 and the box member 6, the end extensions 17a abut the end walls of the box member 6 and cannot pass through the box member 6, preventing disengagement of the access structure 3 from the mounting structure 2.

The access structure 3 and the box member 6 are pivoted down until the side members 14 engage the support structure 22 whereby the * -8- access structure 3 is in an inclined position, as shown in Figure 4, with its forward end bar 1 5 spaced above the ground surface behind the vehicle body 30. The access structure 3 can now be used as a ladder or steps to facilitate access by personnel into and out of the vehicle body 30.

In this operational position, the finger 11 is pivoted forwards, with the box member 6, so that it projects forwardly and upwardly beyond the respective flange 7, as shown in Figure 2b.

The mounting structure 2 is positioned so that the forward edges of the flanges 7 are flush with the end wall 33 of the vehicle body 30.

Accordingly, with the finger 11 in the position of Figure 2b, the door 37 cannot be closed and locked since the projecting finger 11 will act as an obstruction which will engage the door 37 to prevent full closure.

The door 37 can only be closed and locked if the access structure 3 is first stowed.

To stow the access structure 3, the handle 21 is used to lift the end of the access structure 3 upwardly, thereby pivoting the box member 6 and the access structure 3 into a level position. The access structure 3 is then pushed back through the box member 6 with the end extensions 1 7a re-engaging with and travelling along the channel members 4, until the end bar 1 7 abuts the rear transverse bar 5 of the mounting structure 2. As the catch plate 18 of the securing means passes through and beyond the box member 6, the catch plate 18 once again drops downward to secure the access structure 3 in the stowed position.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment, which are described by way of example only.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for accessing a vehicle load-carrying body (30) having a raised platform (32), an access opening (36) and a closure structure (37) movable to close said opening (36), the apparatus comprising: a mounting structure (2) adapted to be fixed relative to said platform (32); and an access structure (3) movable relative to the mounting structure (2) between a stowed position and an operational position; 1 0 whereby in the operational position the access structure (3) is arranged to extend down from the platform (32) through the said opening (36), and wherein an obstruction member (11) is provided, said member (11) being moved into a protruding position to provide an obstruction to the closing of the opening (36) with the closure 1 5 structure (37), when the access structure (3) is moved to the operational position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the obstruction member (11) is movable to extend at least partially outside the bounds of the vehicle body (30).

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the obstruction member (11) is movable to extend into the region of a periphery of the opening (36) that the closure structure (37) occupies when closed.

4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the obstruction member (11) comprises a finger or arm.

5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the obstruction member (11) is arranged to be moved from the protruding position to a non-obstructing retracted position when the access structure (3) is moved to the stowed position.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the obstruction member (11) is movable by mechanical linkage with the access structure (3).

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the obstruction member (11) is pivotally movable relative to the mounting structure (2) and is mounted on a part of the mounting structure (2) which is close to the opening (36).

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the mounting structure (2) comprises a pivotally movable guide member (6) which inter-engages with the access structure (3).

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the guide member (6) comprises an open-ended box-shaped member through which the access structure (3) is guided so as to pass therethrough and pivot therewith as the access structure (3) is moved between stowed and 1 5 operational positions.

10. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the access structure (3) comprises a pathway.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 0, wherein the access structure (3) is a ladder structure having side members (14) and transverse rungs (15, 16, 17).

1 2. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a securing means is provided to retain the access structure (3) in the stowed position.

1 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 2, wherein the securing means comprises a catch on the access structure (3) engageable with an abutment surface of the mounting structure (2), whereby, a catch member (18) drops downward behind the abutment surface when in the stowed position.

14. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 1 3, wherein in the stowed position, the access structure (3) is stowed within the confines of the mounting structure (2) and is recessed into the vehicle body platform (32).

1 5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 1 4, wherein in the operational position, the access structure (3) extends downwardly in inclined disposition terminating above a ground surface.

1 6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 1 5, wherein the access structure (3) is slidably mounted on the mounting structure (2).

1 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 6, wherein the mounting structure (2) comprises a framework with opposed channel members (4) defining runners for engagement with projecting parts (17a) of the access structure (3).

18. An apparatus according to claim 1], wherein the mounting structure (2) comprises abutments (5, 6c) for engagement with the projecting parts (17a) at opposite ends to limit travel of the access structure (3).

19. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein movement between the positions is facilitated manually by a handle (21) on the access structure.

20. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 1 9, wherein the apparatus (1) is used in a road vehicle load-carrying body (30) which may be a trailer or lorry or a van or other body suitable for carrying loads, to aid access for loading and unloading of loads.

21. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.