Wheel chair abstract
A lightweight portable wheel chair ramp comprising a pair of ramps
detachably secured to one another in a compact, portable configuration.
Each ramp is telescopically extensible with oppositely disposed
non-slip surface engaging flanges and can be adjustably locked to
the length required. A pair of alignment and spacer brackets secure
the ramps together in spaced parallel relation during operation.
The ramps can be detached from one another, collapsed and secured
together for ease of transport.
Wheel chair claims
It will thus be seen that a new and useful compact portable wheel
chair ramp has been illustrated and described and that various changes
and modifications may be made herein without departing from the
spirit of the invention and having thus described my invention what
I claim is:
1. A portable self-contained wheel chair ramp comprising a pair
of ramps, each of said ramps having first and second elongated telescopically
engaged support members that are cross sectionally U-shaped, inturned
and downturned continuously extending flanges on each of said first
support members arranged to overlie portions of each of said second
support members, longitudinally extending angularly disposed support
flanges on the ends of each of said ramps, a pair of transversely
positioned elongated spacer brackets, the ends of which are respectively
attached to said support flanges whereby said pairs of ramps are
uniformly transversely spaced with respect to one another.
2. The portable self-contained wheel chair ramp of claim 1 wherein
said angularly disposed support flanges each having downwardly extending,
transversely extending, apertured channels registrable with said
spacer brackets for positioning the same at right angles to said
support flanges.
3. The portable self-contained wheel chair ramp of claim 1 wherein
said inturned and downturned flanges are inverted U-shaped so as
to cage the upper longitudinal edges of said second elongated telescopically
engaged support member.
Wheel chair description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to wheel chair ramps and the like used to
provide a transfer structure for wheel chairs between two areas
of an unequal height, such as a stairs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art devices of this type have relied on a number of different
designs. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,084,713, 3,818,528 and
3,009,183.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,713, a vehicle wheel chair ramp is disclosed
having a multiple hinge configuration extending from a vehicle to
the ground. A series of internal steps are provided within the ramp.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,528 shows a portable ramp for wheel chairs
having multiple ramp sections hinged to one another in an end to
end configuration with foldable ramp legs of different heights secured
under the ramp section.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,183, a variable length portable ramp is
disclosed having interlocking convex and concave surfaces integrally
formed between the longitudinal tracks. Applicant's device discloses
a pair of separate telescopically extensible ramps, each of which
has ground engaging oppositely disposed flanges. The ramps are detachably
secured in spaced parallel relation to one another with each ramp
being lockable in extended position for use and collapsible for
transport.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A lightweight portable wheel chair ramp having a pair of telescopically
extensible ramp members secured to one another for transportation
and storage being separated in spaced parallel position to one another
during use. In normal use the ramp members are spaced in fixed relation
to one another by spacer brackets and the ramps are extended to
the length required and locked in place. Oppositely disposed ground
engaging flanges on each end of each ramp holds the ramps in proper
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wheel chair ramp;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial section on lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an end portion of the ramp;
FIG. 4 is a enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the wheel
chair ramp;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged portion of the wheel chair ramp;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wheel chair ramp in closed
transportable position; and
FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the wheel chair ramp in use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A wheel chair ramp can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings
comprising a pair of ramps 10, each of which has an outer support
member 11 and an inner support member 12, the outer support member
11 has an elongated rectangular base 13, oppositely disposed upstanding
side walls 14A and 14B extending from said rectangular base 13 and
inturned and downturned flanges 15A and 15B extending from the free
edges of said side walls in parallel relation to said base 13 and
said side walls.
Ground engaging flanges 16 are secured to one end of each of said
bases 13 extending outwardly therefrom and angularly disposed in
relation to the longitudinal axis of said bases. The elongated inner
support member 12 is of a cross sectionally U-shape and is of an
outer width smaller than that of the inner width of the outer support
member 11 so as to slidably fit therein. See FIGS. 1,2 and 7 of
the drawings.
Secondary ground engaging flanges 17 are secured on one of the
ends of each of said inner support members 12 opposite the ground
engaging flanges 16 and are angularly disposed in relation to the
longitudinal axis of said inner support members 12 opposite that
of the angular disposition of the ground engaging flanges 16. Each
of the outer and inner support members 11 and 12 have a plurality
of longitudinally spaced apertures adjacent their respective ends
for registry with one another. Removable fasteners 18 secure the
inner and outer support members in extended position by passing
through the aligned apertures as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
Referring now to FIGS. 1,3 and 4 of the drawings, the ground engaging
flanges 16 and 17 can be seen having a non-slip textured surface
19 preferably of a rubber-like material secured to the underside
thereof. These non-slip surfaces 19 contact the ground and prevent
the extended ramps 10 from sliding during use.
A pair of spacer brackets 20 and 21 as seen in FIGS. 1,4 and 5
of the drawings, are comprised of an inverted U-shaped channel member
with transversely positioned openings 22 formed inwardly from each
end. The bracket 20 is engaged in a downturned channel C extending
from said flanges 17, said channels having apertures that register
with said openings 22. The other bracket 21 is engaged in a downturned
channel C that extends from the flanges 16 secured to the outer
support members 11. Fasteners F secure said brackets 20 and 21 with
said channels C.
Each of the downturned channels C is of a width greater than that
of said bracket so that the same can slidably fit within. Each of
the spacer brackets 20 and 21 shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 of
the drawings are apertured to receive the fasteners 18 so they can
be secured to the inner support members 12 for storage and during
transportation when the inner and outer support members are joined
together as seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings.
The ramps 10 are secured to one another by suitable fasteners means
such as a latch, as will be well understood in the art, forming
a compact lightweight portable package with a handle H that can
be easily transported by one individual to the site required and
easily set up as seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings.
In use, the ramps are separated and fasteners 18 are temporarily
removed freeing the spacer brackets 20 and 21. The inner support
members 12 are slid outwardly the required length aligning the apertures
within the inner and outer support member units. The fasteners 18
are then replaced through the apertures securing the support members
in extended position. The spacer brackets 20 and 21 are positioned
between the ramps 10 adjacent their respective ends within the downturned
channels C in the flanges 16 and 17 respectively.
The ground engaging flanges 16 and 17 each support the ramps 10
and prevent the ramps from slipping. The side walls 14A and 14B
and the U-shaped inner support members prevent a wheel chair from
veering off the ramps during use, while the spacer brackets 20 and
21 maintain the proper spaced parallel relationship of the ramps
which is equal to that of the wheel chair. |