Patent Application
20190119922
Ramps and platforms are becoming increasingly common, due primarily to the recent passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requiring public buildings to be designed or modified to provide wheel chair access. These ramps and platforms assist those people confined to wheelchairs or who use walkers by providing a suitable pathway or rampway to the entrances of public and private buildings and stores, which may be at elevations above or below ground level. Since each site may be generally different from other sites, there is a need for ramp and platform assemblies that are modular in construction, and designed to minimize the cost and assembly time of at-site assembly.
Modular ramp and platform assemblies generally include deck surfaces, support posts, and handrails. These modular assemblies can be configured to provide ramping and horizontal deck surfaces to provide access, for example, if a user needs to travel from elevation A to elevation B, but is not able to traverse stairs or a steep slope to get there.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a ramp assembly is provided. The ramp assembly includes a decking system and a handrail system, and an interface between the decking system and the handrail system and a support system pivotably coupled to the interface.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a swivel bracket, comprising a first section defining an inner cavity for receipt of an elongate member and a second section adjacent the first section, the second section including an attachment section for swivel attachment to an object, wherein the first section is separated from the second section by a separator.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of assembling a ramp assembly is provided. The method includes coupling a decking system and a handrail system at an interface and pivotably coupling a support system to the interface.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the interface may be a saddle bracket.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the support system may be pivotably coupled to the saddle bracket by a swivel bracket.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the swivel bracket may include a first section having an inner cavity for receipt of a support leg, and a second section adjacent the first section, the second section configured for saddle bracket attachment, wherein the first section is separated from the second section.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the second section configured for saddle bracket attachment may include a first hole for stability attachment to the saddle bracket and a second hole for swivel attachment to the saddle bracket.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the first section may include an access port for passage of a tool through the inner cavity of the first section to the second section.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the second section may include a clamping device for clamping a support leg in the inner cavity.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the inner cavity may be configured to receive either a square or a circular support leg.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the second section configured for swivel attachment may include a first hole for stability attachment and a second hole for swivel attachment.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the first section may include an access port for passage of a tool through the first section to the second section.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the second section may include a clamping device for clamping a support leg in the inner cavity.
In any of the embodiments described herein, the inner cavity may be configured to receive either a square or a circular support leg.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings where like numerals reference like elements is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed.
The following description sets forth one or more examples of a ramp and/or platform assembly and components thereof. Generally, embodiments described herein relate to modular ramp and platform assemblies that may include deck surfaces, support posts, and handrails. Additional embodiments relate to interfaces between components of the platform assembly, including, for example, the interface between the ramp section and the deck or platform section, the interface between the platform support posts and the handrail posts, etc.
As described in greater detail below, many of the components of the ramp and platform assembly may be formed from metal, for example, from extruded aluminum. Extruded aluminum construction generally reduces parts in the overall system, thereby reducing manufacturing and assembly costs, as well as operational noise generated by rattling part couplings. Moreover, extruded aluminum parts can be designed to achieve the same strength and stiffness requirements as steel construction, while having reduced weight over steel parts or parts made from other materials, allowing for improved ease of assembly and optimized part design.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that many embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of the specific details. In some instances, well-known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure may employ any combination of features described herein.
In accordance with ADA requirements, the grade of the ramp must be within a certain rise to run ratio. Such ratio may vary for ramping deck surfaces depending on the rise and the distance between the desired high and low elevation points of the ramp. Therefore, adjustable interfaces are needed to adjust the support system 26 to properly couple with the decking system 22.
Referring to
The fasteners 40 extend from the first and second ramp platforms 30 and 32 through respective holes 36 and 38 in the saddle bracket 34 and through holes in the first and second handrail posts 42 and 44 of the handrail system 24 to couple the handrail system 24 to the decking system 22. (See
While the handrail system 24 runs at the same grade as the decking system 22, the support system 26 does not. In the illustrated embodiment, the support system 26 includes legs 50 and feet 52 to support the ramp assembly 20 from a ground surface. Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, a pivoting bracket 54 for receiving the leg 50 for attachment is provided. The pivoting bracket 54 attaches to the saddle bracket 34 by swivel attachment.
Referring to
The side-walls of the inner cavity 68 may be contoured to receive square or circular legs 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidewalls of the inner cavity 68 are contoured to receive either square or circular legs 50. The sidewalls of the inner cavity 68 of the illustrated embodiment form a square cavity for receipt of, for example, a leg having a square cross-section. However, the sidewalls of the inner cavity also include rounded portions to alternatively form a round cavity for receipt of, for example, a leg having a circular cross-section. The cavity may be designed for the receipt of other shaped legs.
The first and second sections 56 and 58 are separated by a separation. In the illustrated embodiment, the separation includes partially extending walls 60 which form structure to receive a leg through the inner cavity 68 of the first section 56, but which define a through-space 70 between the first and second sections 56 and 58.
Referring to
The second attachment hole 64 in the pivoting bracket 54 is a swivel hole, which allows the pivoting bracket 54 to swivel relative to the saddle bracket 34 (and by extension, relative to the decking system 22). Such swiveling allows the pivoting bracket 60 to achieve the correct angle relative to the decking system 22 for proper leg support before the pivoting bracket is fastened.
The second section 58 of the pivoting bracket 54 allows for fastener attachment of the pivoting bracket 54 to the decking system 22 without the fasteners interfering with the inner cavity 68 of the first section 56 of the pivoting bracket 54, which needs to remain clear and open for receiving a leg 50.
A tool insert hole or access port 66 is provided in the first section 56 of the pivoting bracket 54 to allow a tool to enter the inner cavity of the pivoting bracket 54 and through the through space 70 between the first and second sections 56 and 58 of the pivoting bracket 54. Such passage allows for a tool to adjust the fasteners 46 received in the first and second attachment holes 62 and 64.
Corner fasteners 74 received in corner fastener holes 76 of the pivoting bracket 54 (see
With reference to the series of
Prior to the coupling of the handrail fasteners 40, support fasteners 46 are inserted into the support fastener holes 48 of the saddle bracket 34 (see
After the swivel bracket 54 has been attached in a proper orientation relative to the decking system 22 (see
The swivel support attachment of the present disclosure provides advantages over previous designs by simplifying the interface 28 between the handrail system 24, the support system 26, and the decking system 22. In addition, the swivel support attachment simplifies the adjustments needed for attachment of the support system 26 to the decking system 22 to simplify assembly of the ramp assembly 20.
The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as claimed.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/574,659, filed Oct. 19, 2017, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62574659 | Oct 2017 | US |
