WO2014112882A1

WO2014112882A1 - Rubber ramp

Info

Publication number: WO2014112882A1
Application number: PCT/NO2014/050006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Øyvind SKAAR
Original assignee: Bergen Medikal As
Priority date: 2013-01-15
Filing date: 2014-01-14
Publication date: 2014-07-24
Also published as: NO334564B1; NO20130088A1

Abstract

A rubber ramp (20; 40; 60) formed with one, in cross-section, mainly wedge form is described, where the ramp comprises a rear part (26) arranged to lie against a barrier and a top surface (28) equipped with respective shoulders (22a, 22b) and which is angled towards a forward edge (24), said forward edge (24) constitutes the lowest part of the wedge form. The rubber ramp (20; 40; 60) comprises several material sections (12) that can be cut off, where each material section (12) that can be cut off is demarcated by an external cutting groove (10), at least in the top surface (28) and an undercut slit (18) on the underside of the ramp, where the undercut slit (18) runs parallel with the external cutting groove (10).

Description

Rubber ramp

The present invention relates to a rubber ramp formed with an, in cross-section, mainly wedge form, where the ramp comprises a rear part arranged to lie against a barrier and a top surface equipped with respective shoulders, and which is angled towards a forward edge, said forward edge constitutes the lowest part of the wedge form.

Rubber ramps or ramps of metal or other materials are commonly known to be placed in, for example, a door opening or in small stairs, thus to ease access for, in particular, disabled people who sit in a wheelchair or find walking difficult, prams and other carriers, wheeled walkers, goods transport, etc.

Common to all the known solutions, and then in particular those that are manufactured from a rubber material, is that they are formed, in cross-section, mainly in a triangular shape, where the ramp increases in height towards the barrier it lies against, often at an elevation ratio of 1:8 - 1:12, although the elevation ratio can vary. The ramp can also be formed with inclining side edges and have preferably a low forward edge.

Furthermore, it is known that the rubber ramps can be equipped with a slide resistant surface, often with ridges or a waffle pattern. The known ramps can also have a module-based form so that several part ramps can be put together to form the required length and height. The ramps can, for example, be put together and be joined with the help of so-called dovetailed joints. As the rubber ramps are manufactured from rubber it will be possible to cut them to the desired length and height.

An example of a module-based rubber ramp is described in US 5,901,395 and it shows a wedge-formed and extended rectangular ramp made from a recycled rubber and which is equipped with slanting side edges or shoulders.

Furthermore, US 8,127,389 Bl shows a rubber ramp formed with a wedge-formed section where the top surface of the ramp is equipped with crossways grooves. US 5,446,937 A describes a wedge-formed ramp comprising removable ramp parts that make it possible to adapt the height of the ramp to the height of the barrier against which it shall lie.

A problem with the known solutions is that they can, to some extent, be difficult to adjust to the barrier they are to lie against. This is even if the known solutions are module based and can therefore be cut. The known solutions must be made either in many different lengths to fit the height of the barrier they are to lie against or they must initially be cut at the factory. It may be possible in some cases to cut the ramp on site, but very powerful tools are required to carry out this task as one will always have to cut the trailing edge, i.e. the edge that lies against the barrier, and should the height of the rear edge be 10 cm or more it is clear that it is not so simple to cut through a solid rubber without special tools.

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rubber ramp which can easily be adapted to a user location and which is simple to cut. It is also an object to provide a ramp that provides the required support and safety for the users.

The abovementioned objects are reached with a rubber ramp as given in the independent claim, with a rubber ramp formed with an, in cross-section, mainly wedge shape, where the ramp comprises a rear part arranged to lie against a barrier, and a top surface equipped with

respective shoulders and which are angled towards a forward edge, said forward edge makes up the lowest part of the wedge shape. The rubber ramp comprises several material sections that can be cut off, where each material section that can be cut off is demarcated by an external cutting groove, at least in the top surface, and an undercut groove on the underside of the ramp, where the undercut groove runs in parallel with the external cutting groove .

Alternative embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The material sections that can be cut off can be arranged in an area in or adjoining the rear part.

Furthermore the underside of the ramp can comprise several weight-saving notches, where the depth of said notches increases towards the rear part.

The underside of the ramp can also comprise several extra weight-saving notches. Where the depth of said notches increases towards the rear part, and that the notches are formed with a complete or partial hexagonal shape. Several external cutting grooves can extend over the top surface and over respective shoulders. Similarly, several undercut slits can extend on the underside of the ramp. The material section that can be cut off can comprise a number of weight-saving notches that are separate from the undercut slit.

In further embodiments the undercut slit can be arranged to contain a rear support.

The rear support can be formed with an upper part with a smaller cross-section than a lower part, whereby an open space is provided between the upper part and the sidewall of the slit that permits passage of a cutting tool from the cutting groove and into the slit.

Furthermore, in its underside the ramp can comprise one or more support elements arranged in a pocket. The support element can be composed of a number of rib-reinforced part elements, where several support elements placed side by side can be arranged to lock together with the help of a locking element that is mounted in a locking groove in respective part elements.

The support element can preferably be formed with one, in cross-section, wedge shape, mainly corresponding to the rubber ramp. The rear support and/or the support elements can be manufactured from a rigid plastic, such as a

thermoplastic . Further objects will become clearer from the following description of the invention and the enclosed figures.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a rubber ramp according to the invention, seen in perspective from above .

Figure 2 shows the rubber ramp shown in figure 1 seen in perspective from below.

Figure 3 shows a section of the rubber ramp shown in figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows a segment of the section shown in figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a rubber ramp according to the invention seen in perspective from above.

Figure 6 shows the rubber ramp shown in figure 5 seen in perspective from below.

Figure 7 shows a section of the rubber ramp shown in figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 shows a segment of the section shown in figure 7.

Figure 9 shows a third embodiment of a rubber ramp according to the invention seen in perspective from above.

Figure 10 shows the rubber ramp shown in figure 9 seen in perspective from below.

Figure 11 shows a section of the rubber ramp shown in figures 9 and 10.

Figure 12 shows a segment of the section shown in figure 11.

Figure 13 shows a partially exploded drawing of the rubber ramp shown in figures 9 and 10.

Figures 14, 15 and 16 show different outlines of a support part to be used in the rubber ramp according to the invention. Figure 17 shows a variant of the underside of a rubber ramp according to the invention.

The same reference numbers in the figures illustrate corresponding elements.

As can be seen in figures 1-4, a first embodiment is shown of the present invention in the form of a rubber ramp 20 that is placed against a barrier (not shown) , such as a doorstep or another form for an edge, and where the ramp extends from the edge/barrier. The first embodiment is initially the smallest and simplest of the three

illustrated embodiments in the enclosed figures. The rubber ramp 20 is formed in a known way with an, mainly or approximate "wedge form", and with a rear edge 26 arranged to lie against said barrier, a top surface 28 slanting towards the front and a forward edge 24, where the forward edge 24 naturally makes up the lowest part of the rubber ramp. Furthermore, the illustrated rubber ramps comprise a shoulder 22a, 22b on either side. However, one or both shoulders can be omitted or cut off depending on the user location .

The external shape of the shoulders 22a, 22b can, as illustrated in the figures, go from a relatively edged form at the rear edge 26 to a gradually more flat form towards and up to the forward edge 24, which will ease the access to the rubber ramps from the side. Furthermore, the shoulders can comprise an area with a marked transition 22', where the shoulders are considerably flattened and become similar to, or are approximately egual to, the height of the forward edge 24. The rubber ramp 20 further comprises several material sections 12 that can be cut off, preferably in or

adjoining the rear part 26. Each material section 12 that can be cut off is demarcated by an external cutting groove 10, at least in the top surface 28 and preferably also over the shoulders 22a, 22b and an undercut slit 18 on the underside of the ramp, where the undercut slit 18 runs in parallel with the external cutting groove 10. As can be seen in figures 3 and 4 this gives a relatively limited cross-section that has to be cut to remove the material section 12 that has been cut off. For this reason it is not necessary to have a powerful cutting tool for the adjustment of the rubber ramp, but the cutting can be carried out using a simple and sharp tool, such as, for example, a knife, a Stanley knife or a saw.

Furthermore, the first embodiment of the rubber ramp 20 can be equipped on the underside with a number of weight- saving notches 16 in the material sections 12 that can be cut off, separate from the slit 18, and also several weight-saving notches 14 in the whole, or parts, of the remaining area on the underside of the rubber ramp, where the depth of said notches increases towards the rear part. Figures 5-8 show a second embodiment of a rubber ramp 40 according to the present invention, where the ramp is somewhat larger and also possibly wider than the first embodiment. The rubber ramp 40 is mainly formed as

described above and comprises in a corresponding way a mainly, or approximately, wedge form, and has a rear edge 26, a top surface 28 slanting towards the front and a forward edge 24, and also a shoulder 22a, 22b preferably on each side. The shoulders 22a, 22b can have, in a

corresponding way, a relatively edged form at the rear edge 26 and go gradually towards a more flat form towards and up to the forward edge 24. The shoulders can also comprise an area with a distinct transition 22' where the shoulders are considerably flattened out and become similar to, or are approximately equal to, the height of the forward edge 24.

Furthermore, the rubber ramp 40 preferably comprises several material sections 12 that can be cut off,

preferably in or adjoining the rear part 26. Each material section 12 that can be cut off is demarcated by an

external cutting groove 10, at least in the top surface 28 and also preferably over the shoulders 22a, 22b and an undercut slit 18 on the underside of the ramp, where the undercut slit 18 runs in parallel with the external cutting groove 10.

Contrary to the first embodiment the rubber ramp 40 comprises a wider slit 18 arranged to accommodate a rear support 46 to reinforce the rear edge of the ramp.

Furthermore, the weight-saving notches 16 can be omitted.

The rear support 46 can extend along the whole, or parts, of the length of the slit 18, or alternatively several rear supports that are placed in the slit according to need can be used. Figure 8 shows as an example that the rear support 46, in cross-section, can be formed with an upper part 42 having a smaller cross-section than a lower part 44, so that an open space 18a is formed between the upper part 42 and the sidewall of the slit 18. This space 18a permits the passage of a cutting tool from the cutting groove 10 and into the slit 18 without the rear support being touched. Furthermore, the rubber ramp 40 can be equipped on the underside with one or more pockets 30 that can accommodate one or more support elements 50. The underside can also be equipped with several weight-saving notches 14.

Figure 6 shows several support elements 50 placed next to each other, in this case, three support elements 50. Each support element 50 can be formed from a rigid plastic material, for example, a thermoplastic, and also with a corresponding wedge form such as the rubber ramp.

Furthermore, the sidewise placed support elements 50 can be locked together with the help of respective locking elements 52 that are mounted in locking grooves 54 (as shown in figure 13) .

The advantage with the use of a module-based system with several sidewise support elements is that this gives more freedom with respect to production, but the support elements can alternatively be produced in one piece as shown.

Each support element 50 can be composed of two rib- reinforced 56 part elements 50a, 50b and where several side-by-side support elements 50 are arranged to be locked together with the help of a locking element 52 that is mounted in a locking groove 54 in respective part

elements .

Figures 9-12 show a third embodiment of a rubber ramp 60 according to the invention. This rubber ramp 60 is correspondingly formed as the rubber ramp described above in connection with the second embodiment, but is somewhat longer and alternatively also wider. The difference with the third embodiment is that each support element 50 can be composed of three rib-reinforced 56 part elements 50a, 50b, 50c where several side-by-side support elements 50 are arranged to be locked together with the help of a locking element 52 that is mounted in a locking groove 54 in respective part elements.

Figure 13 shows a partially exploded drawing of the rubber ramp 60, but corresponding part elements are, as mentioned above, parts of the rubber ramp 40.

Figures 14, 15 and 16 show in more detail different outlines in the support part 50 as described above. In further embodiments the rubber ramps can be equipped with, for example, heating wires for ice-free ramps, and also LED lights can be inserted as guiding lights. This would be particularly relevant for the larger models, but can, of course, be used on all models.

As mentioned, it can be relevant to cut the side edges for adaption to walls or the like. For this reason, the shoulders 22a, 22b can be correspondingly equipped with cutting grooves and slits in the longitudinal direction of the rubber ramp.

Figure 17 shows a further variant of the underside of a rubber ramp 60 according to the invention. The underside on all the variants shown can have a form corresponding to that shown in figure 17. On the top side the ramp can correspond, for example, to the embodiment shown in figure 9 or the other figures. As can be seen, the ramp 60 can on the underside comprise corresponding weight-saving notches 14 as described previously, but these can also be omitted. In addition, the ramp can comprise several extra weight- saving notches 14' in a large part of the area on the underside that is not part of the material sections that can be cut off. The notches 14' are preferably formed with a whole, or in part, hexagonal shape. Of course, forms other than hexagonal can also be used.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Rubber ramp (20; 40; 60) formed with an, in cross- section, mainly wedge form, where the ramp comprises a rear part (26) arranged to lie against a barrier and a top surface (28) equipped with respective shoulders (22a, 22b) and which is angled towards a forward edge (24), said forward edge (24) constitutes the lowest part of the wedge form, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that

- the rubber ramp (20; 40; 60) comprises several material sections (12) that can be cut off,

- each material section (12) that can be cut off is demarcated by an external cutting groove (10), at least in the top surface (28), and an undercut slit (18) on the underside of the ramp, where the undercut slit (18) runs parallel with the external cutting groove (10).

2. Rubber ramp (20; 40; 60) according to claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the material sections (12) that can be cut off are arranged in an area in or adjoining the rear part (26) .

3. Rubber ramp (20; 0; 60) according to claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the underside of the ramp comprises several weight-saving notches (14), where the depth of said notches (14) increases towards the rear part (26) .

4. Rubber ramp (20; 40; 60) according to claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the underside of the ramp comprises several extra weight-saving notches (14'), where the depth of said weight-saving notches (14') increases towards the rear part (26) , and that the notches (14' ) are formed in a completely, or partially, hexagonal shape .

5. Rubber ramp (20;40;60) according to claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that several external cutting grooves (10) extend over the top surface (28) and over respective shoulders (22a, 22b).

6. Rubber ramp (20; 0; 60) according to claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that several undercut slits (18) extend on the underside of the ramp.

7. Rubber ramp (20) according to claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the material section (12) that can be cut off comprises a number of weight- raving notches (16) where the weight-saving notch (16) is separated from the undercut slit (18) .

8. Rubber ramp (40; 60) according to claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the undercut slit (18) is arranged to accommodate a rear support (46) .

9. Rubber ramp (40; 60) according to claim 8,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the rear support (46) is formed with an upper part (42) having a smaller cross- section than a lower part (44), whereby an open space (18a) is provided between the upper part (42) and the sidewall of the slit (18) which permits passage of a cutting tool from the cutting groove (10) and into the slit (18) .

10. Rubber ramp (40;60) according to claim 1,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the underside of the ramp comprises one or more support elements (50) arranged in a pocket ( 30 ) .

11. Rubber ramp (40; 60) according to claim 10,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the support element (50) is composed of a number of rib-reinforced part elements ( 50a, 50b, 50c) and that several support elements (50) placed side-by-side are arranged to be securely locked together with the help of a locking element (52) that is mounted in a locking groove (54) in respective part elements.

12. Rubber ramp (40; 60) according to claim 11,

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the support element (50) is formed with one, in cross-section, wedge form, mainly corresponding to the rubber ramp.

13. Rubber ramp (40;60) according to claim 8 or 10, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the rear support (46) and/or the support elements (50) are manufactured from a rigid plastic, such as a thermoplastic.