WO2004085762A1

WO2004085762A1 - Threshold ramp

Info

Publication number: WO2004085762A1
Application number: PCT/SE2004/000438
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arne Andersson
Original assignee: Carl Keruböö AB
Priority date: 2003-03-26
Filing date: 2004-03-23
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Also published as: SE0300858D0; SE525008C2; SE0300858L

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a threshold ramp construction which makes possible a levelling out of a normal level difference between a threshold and a surrounding floor for simplifying passage across the threshold. Depending upon how large the level difference is, the construction comprises at least one ramp element (1) in a modular building system of ramp elements of different length in the transverse direction of the threshold. The front and rear ends of the ramp elements (1), respectively, are designed as male- and female elements (5, 4) in order to permit uniting two or more elements (1) for the formation of a single common ramp plane, at the same time as each one of the male elements (5) is designed as a drive-on rim (11) and each one of the female elements (4) is designed as a threshold connecting flange.

Description

THRESHOLD RAMP

The present invention relates to a threshold ramp construction which makes for levelling out of a normal level distance between a threshold and a surrounding floor. The major object herefor is to attempt to make it simpler for people suffering from various forms of handicaps to pass over a threshold. However, there may be varying reasons for the need for such a levelling out.

Regardless of whether it is a matter of a handicap adaptation or not, and, if so, depending upon the type of movement lώidrance, the person or persons involved may be in need of a rollator or a wheelchair and the difference in height represented by the threshold in question, since the height of individual thresholds varies greatly, normally between 15 and 50 mm even though threshold heights of up to 100 mm may occur, the provision of a threshold ramp is as good as always a matter of adaptation to local conditions.

With prior art apparatuses for this purpose, each such threshold ramp has needed to be custom-built for each individual adaptation. Apart from the fact that this takes unnecessary time from the life of a perhaps seriously ill person, and since measurements must be taken prior to manufacture and assembly in position, this is a costly procedure since the craftsman in question must visit each worksite at least twice. Moreover, a ramp adaptation can normally seldom be reclaimed or recycled after possible dismounting once the need for it has ceased, principally because of the fact that precisely each adaptation is, as was mentioned above, custom-built and not of standard design.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to realise, in an apparatus in threshold ramps, a solution which elegantly obviates the above-outlined problems in that it displays as good as total flexibility concerning adaptability to different threshold heights, at the same time as this apparatus permits great variation possibilities regarding the slope which the apparatus gives rise to. A major advantage afforded by the present invention is that it is possible for the craftsman who is to assemble and mount the ramp construction in question to take with him all requisite parts and details to the worksite, whereby the entire operation involving measuring and adaptation of the various elements of the ramp construction may be put into effect on site at the first visit.

In addition, in the event the need for a handicap adaptation ceases to apply, the apparatus according to the present invention is moreover dismountable in all of its parts and also reclaimable in order to be put into use elsewhere, without any injurious effect to the mounting site.

The object according to the present invention will be attained by a construction according to the present invention which, depending upon how large the level difference is, comprises at least one element in a modular building system of ramp elements of different lengths in the transverse direction of the threshold, the front and rear ends, respectively, of the ramp elements being designed as male and female elements so as to permit joining together two or more elements for the formation of a single common ramp plane, at the same time as each one of the male elements is designed as a drive-on rim and each one of the female elements is designed as a threshold connection flange.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings which show one preferred embodiment. In the accompanying Drawings:

Figs, la to le show ramp elements of different lengths and designs (la and lb), as well as different combinations thereof with load bearing elements, while Fig. If shows a load bearing element for uniting the individual ramp elements;

Fig. 2a is a perspective view obliquely from above of a ramp element of longer construction; Fig. 2b shows the same ramp element as Fig. 2a, but as a perspective view obliquely from beneath; and

Fig. 3 shows a ramp element corresponding to that which is apparent from Fig. lb or anyone of Fig. 2a or 2b, here provided with a supplementary support leg and rail inserted in the ramp element.

Fig. la shows a ramp element 1 for an arrangement according to the present invention in its simplest design. The ramp element 1 is here of one piece manufacture and is approx. 145 mm long from its front edge 2 to its rear edge 3. At the rear edge 3, a female element 4 may be discerned, while a male element 5 is to be found at the front edge 2.

On the underside, there is a number of projections which run along the entire width of the ramp element 1, while the female element 4 has a pocket 7 whose one wall partly consists of a first projection 6. In a direction to the right in the figure, there is to be found a second projection 8a in the form of a rim formation, as well as, immediately thereafter to the right, an additional third projection 8b which is as good as identical but provided with two rim formations in each direction, of which the one rim formation is counter-directed in relation to the projection 8a. Together, the projections 8a and 8b form a rail groove 20 for accommodating a support leg (18, 19). At the foot of the projection 8b, the one rim formation 8c counter-directed to the rim formation on the projection 8b projects for the formation of a cavity 8d which may be thread cut and is suitable for a self-threading screw (not shown). A distance further to the right, there is a consecutive pair of projections 9a, 9b, of which the projection 9a is a straight flange-like projection and the projection 9b is identical apart from a curved outer end 9c. A further distance to the right, there are two mutually counter-directed rim-forming projections 10a and 10b, respectively, which together form a cavity 10c which may be thread cut and which, like the corresponding cavity 8d, is suitable for a self-threading screw (not shown). Furthest out at the right-hand end of the ramp element 1, there is finally a drive-on edge 11, which is designed so as to simplify driving up on the ramp as well as to permit its fixing to the subjacent floor using adhesive.

Fig. lb shows a ramp element 2 which is as good as identical to the ramp element 1 in Fig. la, with two deviations. The one is that the length of the ramp element is 205 mm and the second is that its underside includes a further four projections 12a, 12b, as well as 13a and 13b. The projections 12a and 12b are of straight, flange-like design, while the projections 13a and 13b are rim-shaped and of the same type as the projections 10a and 10b and serve the same purpose.

Fig. If shows a so-called loading element 14 which is illustrated here only in cross section. The loading element 14 consists of a elongate element of a length corresponding to the length between a projection 9b on, for example, a ramp element la, and a projection 9a on another ramp element la or lb. The loading element 14 is approximately 20 mm wide. The element 14 consists of an extruded aluminium element with the curved configuration illustrated in Fig. If. In register with the curve of the element 14, it has two minor projections 15a, 15b. Of each respective end 16a, 16b of the element, the end 16b is bent and curved so that, in its operation, it will be capable of being hooked fast around the outer end 9c of a projection 9b and have a surface contact with the projection 9a on adjacent ramp elements la or lb.

Figs, lc, Id and If thereafter show consecutively alternative combinations of ramp elements according to Fig. la and Fig. lb, which give rise to ramps of lengths of 270 mm, 335 mm and 400 mm, respectively. All of the ramps illustrated in Fig. lc to Fig. If are kept together by loading elements 14, normally three in number, one at each outer edge and one on the centre of each respective joint (not shown).

Fig. 2a shows in perspective a ramp element of the type which has previously been shown in cross section in Fig. lb. As will be apparent, the upper side 22 of the ramp element has a characteristic groove pattern whose purpose is to reduce the slip risk on the element. Fig. 2b shows in a corresponding manner a perspective view obliquely from behind and beneath the ramp element so that it is clearly apparent how the different projections 8a, 8b, 8c, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b and the female element 4, respectively, extend along the complete width of the ramp element.

Last but not least, Fig. 3 shows a ramp element according to Fig. lb in a state prepared for physical application. To this end, at least two so-called blind rivet nuts 18 are inserted in the rail groove 20. The blind rivet nut 18 comprises a more than 10 mm long thread which makes it possible, depending upon the length of the selected screw 19, to adapt the length of the composed assembly of blind rivet nuts 18 and screws 19 so that the level of the end of the threshold ramp close to the threshold exactly coincides with the height of the threshold. In order to facilitate mounting in position and moreover eliminate the risk that the heads of the screws 19 dig out craters in subjacent floor material with the passage of time, the construction also includes a U-shaped rail 21 which may be cut in a suitable length corresponding at most to the width of the pertinent ramp element, the rail 21 on its lower side being provided with a suitable double-adhesive coating. Apart from the above mentioned wear-preventive function, the rail will moreover hereby constitute, after having been applied, a fixing agent for the ramp element as a whole. For the sake of completeness, it should also be mentioned that the threshold ramp construction according to the present invention also includes cuneiform side pieces which are intended to be fixed by means of self-threading screws in the holes 8d and 10c intended for the purpose, as described above.

The ramp element according to the present invention is intended to function as follows. Depending upon the application and height of the threshold which is to be levelled out, the slope which the ramp may be permitted to have is determined. Depending upon the outcome, one, two or possibly even several ramp elements may be connected together in the above disclosed manner, these elements being mounted together in that they are inserted one-by-one in one another and are fixed by the loading element 14. hi such instance, both ends of the loading element 14 engage, as was mentioned previously, with projections on each respective ramp element according to Fig. la and/or Fig. lb, and support the ramp element which, in the joint, comprises a female element with its downwardly directed projection 6 between the projections 15a, 15b on the centre of the loading element 14. Since the one end 16a of the loading element 14 displays a straight bend, it is necessary that this end be provided with a hole for a screw (not shown) at reference numeral 17 in order to make it possible to screw in such a screw between the projections 9a, 9b for purposes of retention. The distance from the edge of the threshold or alternatively the rear end of the ramp element to the centre of the screw 19 is measured and marked on the floor adjacent the threshold. Thereafter, the U-shaped rail 21, which have earlier been cut to the appropriate length, is fixed to the floor using suitable adhesive (the floor area had previously moreover been cleaned carefully from fat and the like), and, after the stipulated fixing time, the ramp construction may be lifted in place and, possibly at the drive-on end, be fixed using an adhesive of a type similar to that previously employed for the U-shaped rail 21. Finally, expedient side pieces are fixed to the ramp construction in the above-mentioned manner.

The present invention should not in any way be considered as restricted to the illustrated embodiment, but may be modified without departing from the scope of the appended Claims.

Claims

1. A threshold ramp construction which makes possible a levelling out of a normal level difference between a threshold and a surrounding floor for simplifying passage across the threshold, characterised in that, depending upon how large the level difference is, it comprises at least one ramp element (1) in a modular building system of ramp elements of different length in the transverse direction of said threshold, the front and rear ends of the ramp element (1) respectively being formed as male- and female element (5, 4) in order to permit unifying of two or more elements (1) for the formation of a single common ramp plane, at the same time as each one of the male elements (5) is formed as a drive-on rim (11) and each one of the female elements (4) is designed as a threshold connecting flange.

2. The threshold ramp construction as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the threshold ramp elements (1) are produced as extruded aluminium elements.

3. The threshold ramp construction as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the individual ramp elements (1), once they have been brought together for the formation of a longer composite ramp, are fixed in this state by means of one or more loading elements (14) which are disposed on the underside of the composite ramp and are active so that, when the ramp is subjected to a transverse loading, they absorb the transverse loading as a tractive loading in their respective major longitudinal directions.

4. The threshold ramp construction as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the underside of each ramp element (1) consists, on the one hand, of a combination of a straight strip formation and a curved strip formation (8a, 8b), respectively, and, on the other hand, a combination in the form of a double straight strip (9a, 9b), both in the transverse direction of the ramp element, in order to permit the provision of said loading elements (14) between each respective strip combination.

5. The threshold ramp construction as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that each ramp element (1) consists of at least two parallel curved strip formations each of two curved strips (10a, 10b; 13a, 13b) which are mutually turned to face towards one another, between which screws associated with cuneiform side covering plates may be screwed in for fixing the latter.

6. The threshold ramp construction as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that threshold ramp elements (1) in at least two lengths per standard door width may be interconnected, whereby at least five different ramp lengths may be created with only one joint per ramp.

7. The threshold ramp construction as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that each ramp element (1) is, on its underside, provided with at least two screw-threaded members in/on which a corresponding screw or alternatively nuts are adjustably screwable to suitable length for accurate vertical adjustment of the ramp in relation to the threshold.

8. The threshold ramp construction as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the screw-threaded means consist of a weld nut or a weld bolt.

9. The threshold ramp construction as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that the screw-threaded means consist of blind rivet nuts (18) which are loosely inserted in a rail groove (20) provided on the underside of the ramp element.

10. The threshold ramp construction as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that nuts or screws associated with the apparatus are provided with a friction- increasing coating for maintaining a completed adjustment.