Platform lift, especially stair lift

Abstract

Platform lift (1), comprising a guide rail (2); a travel unit (6) which can be moved along at least one guide rail (2), a platform, in particular a seat (8), which is attached to the driving unit (6); wherein the guide rail (2) has a three-dimensional curved shape; the platform lift further comprises a fastening (10) for the guide rail (2), the fastening (10) comprising: - a base (20) attached to a staircase (3) or wall, - a rail piece (40) which is attached to the guide rail (2), - a support (30) connecting the base piece (20) to the rail piece (40).

Description

[0001] The present utility model relates to a platform lift, in particular a stair lift.

[0002] WO 2013 / 129923 A1 discloses a platform lift in the form of a stairlift with a seat. A carriage travels along at least one guide rail. A leveling mechanism is provided to always keep the chair in a horizontal orientation, even if the inclination angle of the guide rail changes along the travel path. In particular, the rail of such lifts has a curved shape, as in Fig. 3 of WO 2015 / 052489 A1.

[0003] The present utility model comprises a platform lift according to claim 1; refinements are the subject of the subclaims and the description.

[0004] The pattern is explained in more detail using the figures below, which show: Fig. 1 a) a schematic view of a stairlift; b) a perspective detailed view of a fastening for a rail of the stairlift from Fig. 1; Fig. 2 two perspective views of a rail section with attached connecting piece of the fastening from Fig. 1; Fig. 3 two perspective views of a rail section with attached rail piece of the fastening from Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a perspective view of an embodiment of a support with attached base piece of the fastening from Fig. 1; Fig. 5 a perspective view of another embodiment of a support with attached base piece of the fastening from Fig. 1; Fig. 6 a perspective view of a selection of supports of different sizes; Fig. 7 a perspective view of a foot piece that can be connected directly to a rail section.

[0005] The Fig. 1a shows a platform lift 1, for example in the form of a stairlift, to which the invention is applicable. The stairlift 1 comprises a driving unit 6, which is moved along a direction of travel D from a first floor 4 to a second floor 5. The direction of travel D is defined by a guide rail 2 and is essentially predetermined by the course of an existing staircase 3 in a house. The driving unit 6 comprises a carrier 7, which serves to guide the driving unit 6 along the rail and which has a drive motor (not shown). A seat 8 is fastened to the carrier 7. The carrier 7 comprises rollers (not shown) that roll along the guide rail 2. The guide rail 2 is fastened to the staircase 3 by means of several fastenings 10.

[0006] To drive the carrier 7 on the guide rail 2, positive engagement means (not shown) are provided, which interact with drive means, in particular a driven pinion (not shown), of the travel unit 6. The guide rail 2 has a three-dimensionally curved shape that deviates from a straight line, so that the direction of travel changes at least once during the travel of the guide rail 2. A leveling mechanism is provided on the travel unit 6 to keep the seat 8 in a horizontal orientation, even if the inclination of the guide rail 2 changes during its travel.

[0007] The guide rail 2 comprises a variety of 2T rail sections and is adapted to the shape of the stairs. On the one hand, exclusively custom-made rail sections can be used, which are manufactured specifically for each installation and precisely adapted to the shape of the stairs. On the other hand, prefabricated 2T rail sections can be selected from a modular system, and the 2T rail sections can be assembled from these. In the latter case, the rail is naturally less optimally adapted to the shape of the stairs, which may result in larger gaps between the stairs and the rail. The larger deviations are then compensated for by fastening elements with comparatively high variability.

[0008] The present utility model concerns fastening elements that are particularly suitable for use with the latter rail sections of a modular system. These are described on the basis of the Fig. 2ff.

[0009] Fig. 1b shows an example of the fastening 10 of a guide rail 2 to a staircase or wall. The fastening 10 comprises a base piece 20, a support 30, and a rail piece 40. The base piece 20 is attached to the staircase or a wall. The rail piece 40 is attached to the guide rail 2 or a rail section 2T of the guide rail. The support 30 connects the rail piece 40 to the base piece 20.

[0010] A rail section 2T comprises, as usual, a tube and a rack. Reference is made to the applicant's earlier disclosures.

[0011] Fig. 2a shows a connecting piece 50 that is attached to a rail section 2T. Two adjacent rail sections 2T are connected to one another using such a connecting piece 50. The connecting piece 50 has a spring plate that is U-shaped in cross-section and is perforated along a peripheral region. The connecting piece 50 thus has an outer diameter that essentially corresponds to an inner diameter of the tube of the rail section 2T. The connecting piece 50 can be expanded so that the connecting piece 50 is pressed force-fittingly against the inside of the tube, thus forming a firm connection with the rail section 2T. When the connecting piece 50 is connected to two adjacent rail sections 2T in this way, the two rail sections 2T are firmly connected to one another via the connecting piece 50. For expansion, the connecting piece 50 has suitable screw means 50S.Access to the screwing devices 50S is provided through access holes 2B in the rail section 2T.

[0012] Fig. 2b shows a further development of the connecting piece 50 according to Fig. 2a. A rail section 40 can be attached to this connecting piece 50. For this purpose, the connecting piece 50 has a receptacle for a threaded mounting plate 41, to which the rail section 40 is screwed. Here, too, access for the corresponding screw is provided through additional access holes 2B in the rail section 2T. The connecting piece 50 is clamped between the mounting plate 41 and the rail section by the screw connection, thereby creating the firm connection between the connecting piece 50 and the rail section 40 and ultimately between the rail section 2T and the rail section 40.

[0013] The variant according to Fig. 2b is suitable for connecting a rail section 40 to a single or two adjacent rail sections 2T.

[0014] The Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b shows two variants of a rail piece 40 that is attached to a rail section 2T. A rail piece 40 has several, in particular four, connecting fingers 42. A non-visible bore is provided in each of the connecting fingers 42, which is aligned coaxially with the direction of the fingers. A fastening screw for fastening to the rail section 2T is guided in this bore. The shape of the rail pieces 40 can vary. In one variant, the separate formation of the connecting fingers can be omitted (in this case, several bores are provided in one connecting finger).

[0015] The connecting fingers 42 are formed together with a base body 43. The base body 43 has several elongated holes. A support 30 is screwed to at least one of the elongated holes.

[0016] Within the scope of this description, elongated holes generally allow for variable adjustment of the alignment of two components fastened to one another, also in other contexts.

[0017] In the variant according to Fig. 3a, the rail section 40 is attached to the rail section 2T in the same way as Fig. 2b by means of the connecting piece 50.

[0018] In the variant according to Fig. 3b, a connecting piece 50 is not provided. Here, the rail section 40 is screwed directly to the rail section 2T, in particular by means of a fastening plate (not shown but analogous to the fastening plate 41 of Fig. 2b), which is arranged inside the tube of the rail section 2T.

[0019] Fig. Figure 4 shows a first embodiment of a support 30. The support 30 has a lower, outer support element 31 and an upper, inner support element 32, which are telescopically inserted into one another. The two support elements 31, 32 are screwed together and thus fixed in their alignment. One of the support elements, here the outer support element 31, has elongated holes for this purpose. The other, here the inner support element 32, has threaded holes. A gap formed between the two support elements 31, 32 is closed by a cover 33.

[0020] The lower support element 31 is screwed to the base piece 20; the rail piece 40 is screwed to the upper support element 32. The inner support element 32, into which the threaded holes are made, can be formed as a cast part. The outer support element 31 can be a formed sheet metal part.

[0021] In principle, it does not matter whether the lower or upper support element is the outer or inner support element.

[0022] Fig. Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a support 30, which largely corresponds to the first embodiment Fig. 4; only the differences will be discussed below. In the inner support element 32, the holes for the screw connection are not threaded holes. Instead, a mounting plate 34 with threaded holes is provided within the inner support element 32. Using the screw connection, the inner support element 32 is clamped between the outer support element 31 and the mounting plate 34 and thus fixed. The inner support element 32 has elongated holes for variable alignment.

[0023] A spring clip 35 is attached to the mounting plate 34. The spring clip 35, together with the mounting plate 34, is resiliently arranged inside the inner support element 32 such that the spring clip 35 and the mounting plate 34 are pressed from the inside against the inner support element 32 and are thus held in position for assembly.

[0024] A large number of holes on the outer support element 31 enable a rough alignment of the two support elements 31, 32. Elongated holes on the inner support element 32 then enable fine alignment.

[0025] Fig. 6 shows a modular system with a large number of supports 30 analogous to the supports from the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, which differ from each other by support elements 31, 32 of different lengths. The modular system allows for seamless combination of supports 30 in a wide range of lengths.

[0026] In principle, the support 30 and the base piece 20 can interact, in particular due to suitable form-locking means, in such a way that the support 30 has a vertical orientation with respect to the base piece 20, i.e. protrudes vertically upwards from the base piece 20.

[0027] Fig. 7 shows a modification of the fastening of the above-mentioned embodiments. Here, the support 30 is formed integrally with the base piece 20 or is connected by a material bond (e.g., by a weld). Alternatively, for shorter fastenings, the support can be omitted entirely, and the rail section is connected directly to the base piece. List of reference symbols 1 stair lift 2 guide rails 2T rail section 2B Access hole 3 stairs 4 first floor 5 second floor 6 driving unit 7 carriers 8 seats 10 Fastening 20 foot piece 30 support 31 lower outer support element 32 upper inner support element 33 Cover 34 Mounting plate 35 spring clip 40 rail pieces 41 Mounting plate with thread 42 connecting fingers 43 basic bodies 44 elongated holes 50 connecting piece 50S screwing tool QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2013 / 129923 A1

[0002] WO 2015 / 052489 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Platform lift (1), comprising a guide rail (2); a travel unit (6) which can be moved along at least one guide rail (2), a platform, in particular a seat (8), which is attached to the driving unit (6); wherein the guide rail (2) has a three-dimensional curved shape; the platform lift further comprises a fastening (10) for the guide rail (2), the fastening (10) comprising: - a base (20) attached to a staircase (3) or wall, - a rail piece (40) which is attached to the guide rail (2), - a support (30) connecting the base piece (20) to the rail piece (40). [2] Platform lift according to the previous claim, wherein the support (30) is telescopic and comprises an outer support element (31) and an inner support element (32), In particular, the support elements comprise elongated holes (44) for the variable alignment of the support elements (31, 32) to one another. [3] Platform lift according to the preceding claim, wherein a cover (33) is provided which covers a gap formed between the support elements (31, 32). [4] Platform lift (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the supports (30) are selected from a modular system comprising a plurality of supports (30) of different lengths in order to allow a large variability in the length of the supports (30). [5] Platform lift (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a connecting piece (50) - for connecting rail sections (2T) to each other and / or - for connecting the guide rail (2) or at least one rail section (2T) to the fastening (10). [6] Platform lift (1) according to the previous claim, wherein the connecting piece (50) comprises a spring plate which is U-shaped in cross section and is perforated at a peripheral region; the connecting piece further comprises screw means (50S) for spreading the connecting piece (50) in order to ensure a force-fitting connection of the connecting piece (50) to the guide rail (2) or at least one rail section (2T). [7] Platform lift (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide rail (2) comprises a plurality of rail sections (2T) which are adapted to the course of a staircase (3), wherein the rail sections (2T) are either individually manufactured or selected from a modular system.

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