GB2435888A

GB2435888A - Raised flooring platform

Info

Publication number: GB2435888A
Application number: GB0604967A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edward Meadwell
Original assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Current assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Priority date: 2006-03-11
Filing date: 2006-03-11
Publication date: 2007-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-11
Also published as: GB2435888B; GB0604967D0

Abstract

A support assembly 10 usable for instance to assist people getting into a bath. The assembly 10 including a platform member 12 and a plurality of spacer members 14 mounted one on each other beneath the platform member 12 to provide the platform member 12 at a required height. A plurality of platform members 12 and a required corresponding numbers of spacer members 14 may be provided, which may for instance provide a gentle step configuration leading to a bath or elsewhere. The adjacent spacers may be connected to form a larger coherent platform.

Description

Support Assembly This invention concerns a support assembly, and

particularly but not exclusively a support assembly usable by a person to move upwardly for instance to step into a bath or the like.

Support assemblies may be required by elderly persons or others to assist in operations such as getting into a bath. Such assemblies require to 1 0 be suited to particular situations and applications. Existing arrangements have tended not to be sufficiently flexible and/or have proved to be relatively expensive.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a support 1 5 assembly, the assembly including a platform member upon which a person can be supported, and a plurality of spacer members, a required number of which spacer members are selectively mountable to the underside of the platform member to provide the platform member at a required height.

The assembly preferably includes a bracket member for joining a spacer member to a further such spacer member located therealongside.

The bracket member may be selectively mountable in an in use condition to a spacer member such that a part of the bracket member extends substantially laterally from the spacer member, said part being mountable to an adjacent further spacer member to join the spacer members together The bracket member may also be selectively mountable in a non use condition to the spacer member such that the bracket member does not extend substantially laterally or vertically from the spacer member.

The bracket member may include a formation selectively engageable with corresponding formations on the spacer member. A first formation or formations may be provided on the spacer member adjacent an edge thereof with which a formation or formations of the bracket member is engageable in an in use condition. A second formation or formations may be provided on the spacer member spaced from the edge thereof with which the bracket member is engageable in a non use condition.

The bracket member may include a first formation or formations 1 0 engageable with a first spacer member, and a second formation or formations engageable with a second spacer member in an in use condition, with both the first and second formation or formations engageable with the first spacer member in a non use condition.

1 5 The bracket member formations may be engageable with the spacer member in a snap fit. The bracket member formations may be in the form of fingers, with the spacer member formations in the form of recesses with openings of reduced width.

The spacer member may include side walls, with cut outs in the side waHs through which the bracket members are extendable when in an in use condition.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a support assembly including a plurality of platform members upon which a person can be supported, and a plurality of bracket members according to any of the preceding seven paragraphs, for selectively joining the platform members together.

A plurality of feet may be provided which are selectively mountable to the lowest spacer member in an assembly.

The spacer members may include a plurality of hollow upstanding mounting fingers which can locate such fingers in corresponding such fingers on a spacer member located thereabove or in formations in a platform member located thereabove, and can receive such fingers from a spacer member located therebelow.

The feet may be mountable to the underside of the mounting fingers on the lowest spacer member.

The platform member may include side walls and an upper surface which extends substantially horizontal in use and upon which a person can be supported.

Formations may be provided on the platform member upper surface to 1 5 enhance grip, and such formations may be provided by over moulding.

The spacer members may include side walls and an open framework extending therebetween.

The platform member and spacer members may be rectangular in plan view.

The assembly may include a plurality of platform members.

The assembly may include one or more ramp members which include side walls and an upper surface upon which a person can be supported and which is inclined from the horizontal in use. The ramp members may be selectively mountable above one or more spacer members.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a first support assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the first assembly of Fig 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a second support assembly according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the second assembly; Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic front and end views respectively of the second assemby; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view from below of the second assembly; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a third assembly according to the invention; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a fourth support assembly according to the invention; and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the fourth assembly Figs. 1 and 2 show a first support assembLy 10 usable for instance as a step to assist people and particularly the elderly getting into a bath. The assembly 10 includes a platform member 12 and two spacer members 14 mounted one on each other beneath the platform member 12. The platform member 12 is rectangular in plan view with two longer sides, and includes four side walls 16 interconnected by rounded corners 18. The platform member 12 also includes an upper surface 20 with a plurality of formations 22 provided thereon by overmoulding to enhance the grip of a person standing on the surface 20. A recess 24 is provided in the lower edge of each of the side walls 16 mid way along the length thereof, for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The spacer members 14 include side walls 26 joined by rounded corners 28 corresponding to the side walls 16 and corners 18 of the platform member 12. Recesses 30 are provided mid way along the lower edge of the side walls 26 corresponding to the recesses 24 in the platform member 12.

The side walls 26 are interconnected by a perpendicular open framework 32 including a plurality of cross members 34 which define a plurality of rectangular openings 36.

1 5 Hollow upstanding mounting fingers 38 are provided at each corner of the spacer members 14. The fingers 38 are dimensioned to locate within such a finger 38 located thereabove or to receive such a finger 38 from beneath. Recesses (not shown) are provided in the underside of the corners of the platform member 12 to receive the fingers 38 from the uppermost spacer member 14. Four feet 40 are provided of a resilient material. The feet comprise an upstanding cylindrical section 42 slidingly locatable in a friction fit within a respective finger 38, and an enlarged ground engaging head 44.

Bracket members 46 are provided which comprise a pair of fingers 48 spaced apart by a web 50 extending tangentially from each of the fingers 48.

In an out of use condition the brackets 46 can locate in the underside of a one of the spacer members 14 Appropriately spaced recesses 52 are provided in some of the cross members 34 such that in a non use position the brackets 46 can extend across respective openings 36 as shown in Fig. 2.

The assembly 10 comprises a single platform member 12, but where it is required to mount together adjacent platform members and/or spacer members 14 this can be achieved by using the brackets 46, and how this operates is best illustrated in the second support assembly 54 illustrated in Figs. 3 -7. The joining together of respective platform members 12 and/or spacer members 14 is achieved by providing recesses 56 in the underside of the side walls 16, 26 at each end of the respective recesses 24, 30. This enables a one of the fingers 48 to locate in the recesses 56 on a one of the members 12, 14, and the other finger 48 to locate in the recesses 56 of the adjacent member 12 or 14, as is best illustrated in Fig. 7.

A second support assembly 54 shown in Figs. 3 to 7 will now be described. The assembly 54 includes components as provided in the first assembly 10, and therefore corresponding reference numerals are used. The assembly 54 provides an elongate platform defined by two platform members 12A adjoined along two of their shorter sides, each supported by four spacer members 14. A step up to the elongate platform is provided by a further platform member 12B supported on two spacer members 14. The platform member 12B is mounted with one of its longer sides adjacent a longer side of one of the platform members 12A. Fig. 7 illustrates how the lowermost spacer members 14 beneath the platform members 12A, 12B are mounted together along respective edges.

Fig. 8 shows a third support assembly 58 in the form of a set of three steps 60, 62, 64 to enable for instance a person of limited mobility to rise up to the height of the third step 64 in relatively small increments. Again similar components as provided in the first and second assemblies 10, 54 are used.

The first step 60 is formed from a platform member 12c supported on two spacer members 14. The second step 62 is formed by a platform member 12d supported on four spacer members 14. The third step 64 is provided by a platform member 12e supported on six spacer members 14. The lowermost spacer members 14 in each of the steps 60, 62, 64 are respectively joined together along their longer sides by brackets 46 (not shown) as described above.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a fourth support assembly 66 providing a raised platform with perpendicularly arranged ramps leading thereonto. The platform is formed by a plafform member 12 supported by two spacer members 14.

The ramp onto the shorter side of the platform member is provided by the two ramp members 68 which have a generally similar construction to the platform members 12 except that the upper surface 70 is inclined, and the ramp members 68 extend over a smaller surface area.

An upper first of the ramp members 68a is mounted on two ramp spacer platform members 72. Each of the ramp spacer platform members 72 has an open frame work and has two upstanding mounting fingers 74 similar 1 5 to the fingers 38, on one of the longer edges thereof. The ramp spacer members 72 are mountable to each other and the underside of the short ramp member 68a in a similar manner to the mounting together of the spacer members 14 and platform members 12. Brackets 46 (again not shown) mount the lowermost ramp spacer member 72 to the adjacent lowermost spacer member 14 as described above.

A lower second of the short ramp members 68b is engageable on the ground and mountable to the lowermost ramp spacer member 72 again with a bracket 46, to define a substantially continuous inclined surface by the two upper surfaces 70 leading from the ground up to the upper surface 20 of the platform member 12.

A similar ramp is provided onto a one of the longer sides of the platform member 12 with similar but longer ramp members 76 and ramp spacer members 78. Upper and lower quarter circle members 80, 82 are mountable to the ends of the respective ramp members 68 and 78 and ramp spacer members 72, 78 to close the gap in the corner between the ramp members 68 and 78. Projections 84 are provided on the ramp members 68, 78 by overmoulding to assist grip thereon.

It is to be realised that a wide range of structures can be provided of many different sizes and shapes with differing heights as required. The modular nature permits any required number of platform member or spacer members to be used and adjoined by their long or short sides. Using platform members with inclined upper surfaces could enable slopes or ramps to be constricted as required. In addition to the uses outlined above, structures could be used in a wide range of applications, both internally and externally.

The bracket members only extend laterally from a respective platform or spacer member when being adjoined to an adjacent such member, thereby avoiding any unsightly or hazardous projections. The bracket members neatly 1 5 fit on the underside of the spacer member 14 it not required, and appropriate recesses may be provided on the underside of the platform members to also receive bracket members when not in use. Feet are only required for the lowermost platform member or spacer member, and can readily be removed or positioned as required.

There is thus provided an assembly which is very flexible and adaptable and can readily be formed into required shapes and sizes as is needed, whilst utilising a number of common components. The arrangement of the platform and spacer members mean that the assembly can be relatively inexpensively manufactured yet provide robust operation.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the platform member may take a different form and may have a different pattern, type or arrangement of formations thereon.

The platform member may also be a different shape. The spacer members may be provided in a different configuration. Different means may be provided for connecting together the platform members and spacer members.

The brackets may take a different form.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentabJe feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A support assembly, the assembly including a platform member upon which a person can be supported, and a plurality of spacer members, a required number of which spacer members are selectively mountable to the underside of the platform member to provide the platform member at a required height.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the assembly includes a bracket member for joining a spacer member to a further such spacer member located therealongside.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, in which the bracket member is .15 selectively mountable in an in use condition to a spacer member such that a S...

:.:. part of the bracket member extends substantially laterally from the spacer * S member, said part being mountable to an adjacent further spacer member to join the spacer members together. S.. * S *

::..20 4. An assembly according to claim 3, in which the bracket member is S...

selectively mountable in a non use condition to the spacer member such that the bracket member does not extend substantially laterally or vertically from the spacer member.

5. An assembly according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the bracket member includes a formation selectively engageable with corresponding formations on the spacer member.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 3, in which a first formation or formations is provided on the spacer member adjacent an edge thereof with which a formation or formations of the bracket member is engageable in an in use condition.

7. An assembly according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 4, in which a second formation or formations is provided on the spacer member spaced from the edge thereof with which the bracket member is engageable in a non use condition.

8. An assembly according to claims 6 and 7, in which the bracket member includes a first formation or formations engageable with a first spacer member, and a second formation or formations engageable with a second spacer member in an in use condition, with both the first and second formation or formations engageable with the first spacer member in a non use condition.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, in which the bracket member I... . . formations are engageable with the spacer member in a snap fit. *. ..

: 10. An assembly according to claim 9, in which the bracket member S..

* formations are in the form of fingers, with the spacer member formations in the form of recesses with openings of reduced width.

*e**** 20 S...

11. An assembly according to any of claims 2 to 10, in which the spacer member includes side walls, with cut outs in the side walls through which the bracket members are extendable when in an in use condition.

12. A support assembly including a plurality of plafform members upon which a person can be supported, and a plurality of bracket members according to any of claims 2 to 11, for selectively joining the platform members together.

13. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of feet are provided which are selectively mountable to the lowest spacer member in an assembly.

14. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the spacer members include a plurality of hollow upstanding mounting fingers which can locate such fingers in corresponding such fingers on a spacer member located thereabove or in formations in a platform member located thereabove, and can receive such fingers from a spacer member located the re be low 15. An assembly according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 13, in which the feet are mountable to the underside of the mounting fingers on the lowest spacer member.

16. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the platform member includes side walls and an upper surface which extends substantially horizontally in use and upon which a person can be supported. I. *i

17. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which **S.

* formations are provided on the platform member upper surface to enhance : grip. *S.. * S S...

18. An assembly according to claim 17, in which the formations are provided by over moulding.

19. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the spacer members include side walls and an open framework extending therebetween.

20. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the platform member and spacer members are rectangular in plan view.

21. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes a plurality of platform members.

22. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes one or more ramp members which include side walls and an upper surface upon which a person can be supported and which is inclined from the horizontal in use.

23. An assembly according to claim 22, in which the ramp members are selectively mountable above one or more spacer members.

24. A support assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A support assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 3 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. S... * S S...

26. A support assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with * reference to Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings. S... * S

: 27. A support assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with , 20 reference to Figs. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

28. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.