GB2499371A

GB2499371A - Road plate with pivotal end piece and interlocking parts

Info

Publication number: GB2499371A
Application number: GB201201097A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Whiteley
Original assignee: Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2012-01-24
Filing date: 2012-01-24
Publication date: 2013-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2032-01-24
Also published as: GB2499371B; GB201201097D0

Abstract

A road plate has a bridging portion 2 with a first end piece 3, which may be a ramp, which is pivotally mounted to a first end for movement between a first position resting on the surface on one side of the interruption and a second position in which the first end piece is pivoted upwardly away from the surface. The bridging portion 2 may have a second end piece 4 which is pivotally mounted to a second end. The first end piece has on one side first interlocking means 5 and on the second side second interlocking means 6, the first interlocking means being adapted to interlock with the second interlocking means on a ramp of a like road plate by pivoting of the first ramp from the second position to the first position. The first interlocking means may have an arcuate outer profile which can slides over a corresponding surface in the second interlocking means.

Description

-1 -Road Plate

The present invention relates to a road plate, namely a plate for covering an interruption in a surface on which vehicles or pedestrians travel. Such interruptions 5 may be in the form of a trench or hole in a road or pavement whilst pipes or cables are being laid or repaired or roadworks are being carried out.

A known road plate consists of a bridging portion which bridges the interruption in the surface, provided with a ramp at either end. A number of these may be 10 arranged next to each other.

Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a road plate comprising a bridging portion which is for bridging an interruption in a surface, the bridging portion having a first end provided with a first ramp which is pivotally mounted to the 15 first end for movement between a first position in which the first ramp rests on the surface on one side of the interruption and a second position in which the first ramp is pivoted upwardly away from the surface, and a second end provided with a second ramp which is pivotally mounted to the second end for movement between a first position in which the second ramp rests on the surface on the other side of 20 the interruption and a second position in which the second ramp is pivoted upwardly away from the surface; wherein the first ramp has on one side first interlocking means and on the second side second interlocking means, the first interlocking means being adapted to interlock with the second interlocking means on a ramp of a like road plate by pivoting of the first ramp from the second position to the first 25 position, and the second ramp has on one side first interlocking means and on the second side second interlocking means, the first interlocking means being adapted to interlock with the second interlocking means on a ramp of a like road plate by pivoting of the second ramp from the second position to the first position.

30 Thus by placing two of the road plates side by side and pivoting the ramps of one or both of the road plates, the two road plates can be locked together. By pivoting the ramps in the reverse direction the two road plates can be separated from each other. Any number of road plates can be joined together in this manner, to provide a lateral array of appropriate extent to bridge the interruption in the surface.

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- 2 -

Relative pivotal of a ramp of one road plate relative to an adjacent ramp of another road plate causes the first interlocking means of the ramp of said one road plate to interlock with the second interlocking means of the ramp of the other road plate, or to be released from such interlocking.

5

The first interlocking means may be a member projecting laterally from a ramp of the road plate, and the second interlocking means may be a recess to receive such member. The first interlocking means may have an arcuate outer profile and the second interlocking means may have a corresponding arcuate surface over which 10 the first interlocking means slides. The second interlocking means may be provided with at least one portion which restricts relative vertical displacement of the road plates. Thus, the second interlocking means may have a laterally extending member under which the first interlocking means is positioned when the ramp is in the first position, to restrict relative vertical displacement of the road plates. The 15 second interlocking means may be provided with at least one portion which restricts relative lateral displacement of the road plates. The second interlocking means may be provided with at least one portion which restricts relative longitudinal displacement of the road plates.

20 Preferably the first ramp has the first interlocking means on one side of the road plate and the second ramp has the first interlocking means on the other side of the road plate. This means that two road plates can be placed next to each other and interlocked, regardless of the orientation, i.e. regardless of whether the two first ramps are adjacent or the first ramp of one is adjacent the second ramp of the 25 other.

The new road plate of the present invention this provides a quick assembly and quick release mechanism. The end pieces, or ramps, are hinged and have a locking mechanism, preferably of male and female components. As the road plate is 30 lowered into position, the end pieces rotate until they touch the road. As they rotate the curved locking mechanisms lock into each other. The benefit of this system is that each plate does not have to be fixed down which speeds up deployment and disassembly. It also means that when several plates are linked together, any plate can be removed rather than having to lift them up in a sequence.

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-3-

The expression "ramp" encompasses a ramp with an inclined surface which rises to the level of the bridging portion adjacent the hinged joint. However, a locking arrangement could be provided even without such an inclined surfaces and in a modification of the invention the ramps are replaced by flat end pieces. Whilst in the 5 preferred arrangement an interlocking arrangement is provided at both ends of the bridging portion, in a modification of the invention there is an interlocking arrangement only adjacent one end of the bridging portion. The bridging portion may be provided with a pivoting end piece or ramp only at one end.

10 The invention also extends to a combination of two or more laterally arranged road plates interlocked together, and to a method of forming a bridging surface by interlocking two or more adjacent road plates.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with 15 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a road plate in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a close up view of the first locking means on one side of a ramp;

20

Figure 3 is a close up view of the second locking means on the other side of the ramp;

Figure 4 is a view showing two adjacent road plates with the ramps at one end of 25 the road plates interlocked, and one of the ramps at the other end in a raised position prior to being lowered to interlock the ramps; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged portion of Figure 4.

30 In Figure 1 there is shown a road plate 1 having a bridging portion 2, a first ramp 3 pivotally mounted to one end of the bridging portion and a second ramp 4 pivotally mounted to the other end of the bridging portion. On one side of the road plate the first ramp has an outwardly projecting male interlocking member 5 and the second ramp has a corresponding recess 6. On the other side of the road plate the first

-4-

ramp has an identical recess and the second ramp has a male interlocking member identical to that on the first ramp.

As shown in Figure 2 the male interlocking member 5 has a profile which is 5 essentially "C" shaped, starting from a position displaced along the ramp from the pivot joint 7 which joins the ramp to the bridging portion, and curving down and round to below the pivot joint 7. There is an inner part 5a of the member, and an enlarged outer part 5b.

10 As shown in Figure 3, the recess 6 is defined between a lower curved portion 8 and an upper curved portion 9, into which the "C" shaped male interlocking member can slide to restrain relative vertical and longitudinal displacement of the road plates when interlocked. The recess has an inner part 6a which receives the part 5b of the male member, and an outer part 6b which receives the part 5a of the male member. 15 Lateral, longitudinal and vertical displacement are therefore restricted.

Figures 4 and 5 show two identical road plates 1 in the process of being interlocked.

-5-

Claims

1. A road plate comprising a bridging portion which is for bridging an interruption in a surface, the bridging portion having a first end provided with a first 5 end piece which is pivotally mounted to the first end for movement between a first position in which the first end piece rests on the surface on one side of the interruption and a second position in which the first end piece is pivoted upwardly away from the surface, wherein the first end piece has on one side first interlocking means and on the second side second interlocking means, the first interlocking 10 means being adapted to interlock with the second interlocking means on an end piece of a like road plate by pivoting of the first end piece from the second position to the first position.

CO is

A road plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end piece is a ramp.

3. A road plate as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the bridging portion further i— comprises a second end provided with a second end piece which is pivotally mounted to the second end for movement between a first position in which the CO second end piece rests on the surface on the other side of the interruption and a

CM 20 second position in which the second end piece is pivoted upwardly away from the surface; and the second end piece has on one side first interlocking means and on the second side second interlocking means, the first interlocking means of the second end piece being adapted to interlock with the second interlocking means of the second piece on an end piece of a like road plate by pivoting of the second end 25 piece from the second position to the first position.

4. A road plate as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second end piece is a ramp.

5. A road plate as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the first end piece has the 30 first interlocking means on one side of the road plate and the second end piece has the first interlocking means on the other side of the road plate.

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6. A road plate as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first interlocking means is a member projecting laterally from a ramp of the road plate, and the second interlocking means is a recess to receive such member.

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7. A road plate as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first interlocking means has an arcuate outer profile and the second interlocking means has a corresponding arcuate surface over which the first interlocking means slides.

8. A road plate as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the second interlocking means is provided with at least one portion which restricts relative vertical displacement of the road plates.

10 9. A road plate as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second interlocking means has a laterally extending member under which the first interlocking means is positioned when the end piece is in the first position, to restrict relative vertical displacement of the road plate.

CO 15 10. A road plate as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the second "i~~ interlocking means is provided with at least one portion which restricts relative i— lateral displacement of the road plates.

o

CO 11 A road plate as claimed in any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the second

CM 20 interlocking means is provided with at least one portion which restricts relative longitudinal displacement of the road plates.

12. An assembly comprising a combination of two or more laterally arranged road plates as claimed in any preceding claim interlocked together.

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13. A method of forming a road plate assembly for bridging an interruption in a surface, comprising the steps of interlocking two or more laterally arranged adjacent road plates as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11.