Secure access platform

Abstract

The invention primarily relates to a secure access platform (1) comprising a frame (2) and at least one door (3) pivotally connected to the frame (2) between a closed position for preventing access to the platform (4) and at least one open position (5) allowing access to or egress from the platform (1), characterised in that it comprises means (6) for automatically locking the door (3) in its closed position (4), and actuatable means for releasing the locked door (7).

Description

DESCRIPTION Title: Secure Access Platform. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a secure access platform, in particular a stepladder platform. PRIOR ART AND DISADVANTAGES OF PRIOR ART

[0002] In many areas such as goods handling or construction and renovation work, users have systems that allow them to access items located at height. Such systems are mainly stepladders or steps, which do not require support from a fixed vertical wall, and which include a raised platform on which the user maintains a standing position.

[0003] As these platforms are generally located at a height, it has become necessary to introduce safety elements such as guardrails to prevent the user from falling backwards. In particular, a type of guardrail is known comprising one or two pivoting doors forming an access gate: these doors pivot between a position blocking access to the platform, and a release position allowing access to or exit from said platform in which the doors are arranged above the platform.

[0004] For safety reasons, the doors cannot swing beyond the locking position, so that the user on the platform can lean on the doors without risking them opening.

[0005] Although this construction prevents accidental falls, particularly backwards, the user has no choice in how to operate the gate, which can lead to careless handling while the user is at a height. Furthermore, it is inconvenient for the user, who is forced to pull on the gates to exit and descend from the platform. OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention aims to provide a more secure access platform.

[0007] The invention also aims to provide an access platform with optimized ergonomics. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a secure access platform, comprising a frame, a platform connected to the frame and at least one door pivotally connected to said frame between a position for blocking access to the platform and at least one release position allowing access to or exit from the platform, characterized in that it comprises means for automatically blocking said door in its blocking position, and actuable means for releasing the blocked door.

[0009] Thus, when the user enters the platform deck, the door is automatically locked in the closed position, and the user can only exit the platform deck by actuating the door release means. He is thus completely safe on the platform.

[0010] The platform of the invention may also include the following optional features considered in isolation or in all possible technical combinations: - The door is pivotally mounted in a first direction between the blocking position and a first release position in which the door is above the plate, and in a second opposite direction between the blocking position and a second opposite release position, and in that the means for automatically blocking the door in its blocking position are activated only when the door returns from its second release position. - Thus, the user freely enters the platform tray by pivoting the door in the first pivoting direction from its locking position to its first release position above the tray. The door, returning to its locking position, remains locked in pivoting in the second opposite direction: the user is then protected from falling once positioned on the tray. To descend from the platform, the user actuates the release means and pushes the door in the second opposite pivoting direction to the second release position. Finally, the user never needs to pull on the door to access or descend from the platform tray, which optimizes the ergonomics of the invention. - The platform comprises first means for accompanying the pivoting of the door in the first direction and second means for accompanying the pivoting of the door in the second direction, in that it further comprises a guide member which moves either according to the first or according to the second accompanying means according to the pivoting direction considered, and in that the blocking means comprise a separation zone between the first and second accompanying means which: • can be crossed by the guide member only by actuating the release means for its passage from the first accompanying means to the second accompanying means, and • is automatically passable by the guide member for its passage from the second support means to the first support means. - Thus, the pivoting of the door is guided by the movement of a guide member along the first and second accompanying means which are separated by a separation zone, which separation zone ensures safety in one direction of pivoting of the door by blocking the guide member against said separation zone, while ensuring the ergonomics of the invention by allowing the automatic crossing of said zone by the guide member in the other direction of pivoting of the door. - The release means are connected to the guide member and comprise means for the guide member to cross the separation zone between the first and second accompanying means. - Thus, the user must operate the means for crossing the guide member to move from the door locking position to its second release position. - The first and second accompanying means respectively comprise a groove and an adjacent curvilinear surface, arranged at the same distance from a pivot axis of the door and separated by a shoulder forming the separation zone, in that the guide member is a pin movable in translation in a direction perpendicular to a plane of extension of the curvilinear surface, and in that the crossing means comprise means actuable lifting devices formed by a handle attached to the guide pin. - The platform comprises a cam integral with the door and pivotally movable with said door, which cam comprises the curvilinear groove and a flat comprising the curvilinear surface and the shoulder, and a release and locking axis movable in translation in the direction perpendicular to the plane of extension of the curvilinear surface, which axis comprises a free end part formed by the guide pin and an opposite end part integral with the handle. - The axis includes means for returning the guide pin into the groove. - The door includes means of returning it to its locking position. - The platform includes two doors arranged to form a saloon-type access gate.

[0011] The invention also relates to a stepladder comprising a secure access platform as described previously. PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figures, among which:

[0013] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a stepladder including a secure access platform of the invention;

[0014] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the automatic locking means and the actuable release means of the invention;

[0015] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the automatic locking means and the actuable release means of the invention when the door is in its locking position;

[0016] [Fig. 4] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the automatic locking means and the actuable release means of the invention when the door is in its first release position;

[0017] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the automatic locking means and the actuable release means of the invention when the door is in its second release position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] It is first of all specified that in the figures, the same references designate the same elements regardless of the figure in which they appear and regardless of the form of representation of these elements. Similarly, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the figures, their references can be easily found by referring to another figure.

[0019] It is also specified that the figures essentially represent one embodiment of the subject of the invention but that there may be other embodiments which meet the definition of the invention.

[0020] Referring to Figure 1, the invention relates to a stepladder 23 comprising a first 24 and a second 25 pairs of uprights 26, 27, the uprights 26, 27 of the same pair 24, 25 being identical and parallel to each other. Each upright 26, 27 comprises a main body, a first end and a second and opposite end.

[0021] The uprights 26 of the first pair 24 are connected to each other by four parallel steps 28 opening onto a receiving platform 29 for a user of the stepladder 23. This number of steps 28 is of course not limiting and can vary depending on the height of the platform 29 of the stepladder 23. Furthermore, the first ends of the uprights 26 are connected to a guardrail 30 which will be described below, while the second opposite ends comprise non-slip members 31 and are configured to come into contact with the ground.

[0022] The uprights 27 of the second pair 25 are shorter than the uprights 26 of the first pair 24, and are connected to each other by bars 32 which extend perpendicular to said uprights 27 of the second pair 25. The first ends of the two uprights 27 of the second pair 25 are pivotally connected to the main bodies of the two uprights 26 of the first pair 24, while the second opposite ends also comprise non-slip members 31 and are configured to come into contact with the ground. The stepladder 23 of the invention is therefore, in a non-limiting manner, a folding stepladder, shown in FIG. 1 in its unfolded position.

[0023] The stepladder 23 further comprises a guardrail 30 comprising two rectilinear posts 33 each comprising a main body extending perpendicular to the platform 29 when the stepladder 23 is unfolded, a first end secured to said platform 29 and / or the uprights 26 of the first pair 24 and a second opposite end.

[0024] The guardrail 30 further comprises two U-shaped protective rails 34, 35, respectively a lower rail 34 whose ends are secured to the main body of the respective posts 33 by two lower connecting members 36 each surrounding one of the two posts 33, and an upper rail 35 whose ends are secured to the second ends of the respective posts 33 by two upper connecting members 37 surrounding said second ends. Each rail may further comprise tool-receiving supports 38.

[0025] The stepladder 23 also comprises two U-shaped doors 3, arranged to form a saloon-type access gate 50, and connected to the posts 33 of the guardrail 30 by pivoting connecting means 39. The shape of the doors 3 of the gate 50 has been developed for optimal integration of said doors 3 and thus to facilitate the handling of the gate 50 when accessing the platform 29 or when descending from said platform 29.

[0026] Each door 3 is pivotable between a so-called blocking position 4, as shown in FIG. 1 in particular, in which the two doors 3 are opposite each other to generate a safety perimeter above the platform 29, a first release position 9 in a first pivoting direction 8 in which the doors 3 are above the platform 29, and a second opposite release position 5 in a second opposite pivoting direction 10.

[0027] The stepladder comprises two telescopic support legs 51 pivotally connected to the two respective uprights 27 of the second pair 25. More specifically, each leg 51 comprises a main body, a first end pivotally connected to the upright 27 in question and a second end provided with a pad. The body of each leg 51 is further connected according to a link in translation to a connecting bar 52, one end of which is also pivotally connected to the body of the amount considered 27.

[0028] These legs 51 are therefore adjustable in length to allow for additional support even on uneven ground, which increases the stability of the stepladder 23 in its deployed position. Furthermore, the connecting bars 52 make it possible to block the pivoting of each leg 51 relative to the upright in question 27, which further increases the stability of the stepladder 23 in its deployed position.

[0029] Finally, the stepladder 23 comprises two wheels 40 connected in the vicinity of the second ends of the uprights 27 of the second pair 25, to facilitate the movement of the stepladder 23 once folded.

[0030] The stepladder 23 further comprises a secure platform 1 comprising the platform 29, the doors 3, the pivoting connection means to the posts 39, and a frame 2 formed by the guardrail 30 and the two pairs 24, 25 of uprights 26, 27.

[0031] With reference to Figure 2, the pivoting connection means 39 of the doors 3 to the frame 2 will now be described.

[0032] The connecting means 39 comprise, for each door 3, two connecting cups, respectively a low cup 41 in contact with the lower connecting member 36 of the lower rail 34 and a high cup 42 in contact with the upper connecting member 37 of the upper rail 35.

[0033] Each cup 41, 42 (low or high) comprises a sleeve 43 into which one of the ends of the door in question 3 is force-fitted, and an annular body 44 surrounding the post in question 33, which body 44 is rotatable around the post 33. Furthermore, this annular body 44 rests on a collar-type member (not shown) secured to the body of the post in question 33.

[0034] According to the invention, the connecting means 39 further comprise, for each upper connecting cup 42, an annular cam 18 surrounding the post body in question 33, housed in the annular body 44 of the upper cup 42 and secured to said annular body 44 of the upper cup 42. The cam 18 is therefore free to rotate around the post 33. The cam 18 comprises at least one groove curvilinear 11 - which forms the first accompanying means - and a flat 19 comprising a curvilinear surface 12 - which forms the second accompanying means - adjacent to the curvilinear groove 11, the groove 11 and the curvilinear surface 12 being arranged at the same distance from a pivot axis of the door in question 3. Furthermore, the edge of the flat 19 adjacent to the groove 11 is a shoulder 14 which forms the separation zone between the groove 11 and the curvilinear surface 12.

[0035] The door 3 further comprises return means 22 from any one of its release positions 5, 9 to its blocking position 4: these return means 22 comprise a helical spring surrounding the body of the post in question 33, housed under the cam 18 in the annular body 44 of the upper cup in question 42, one end of which is secured to said annular body 44 of the upper cup 42 and the opposite end of which is secured to the post body 33.

[0036] The secure platform 1 comprises automatic blocking means 6 for each door 3 in its blocking position and actuable means 7 for releasing the blocked door 3.

[0037] In particular, the platform 1 comprises, for each door 3, an axis 20 comprising a main body housed in the upper connecting member 37 and which extends in a direction parallel to the post in question 33. The axis 20 further comprises a first end portion forming a guide member - or pin - 13 along the curvilinear groove 11 of the cam 18 when the door 3 moves between its locking position 4 and its first release position 9 (figure 4) and along the curvilinear surface 12 of the flat 19 of the cam 18 between its locking position 4 and its second release position 5 (figure 5).

[0038] The axis 20 comprises a second opposite free end portion to which the actuable release means 7 are secured. More precisely, these actuable release means 7 are formed by a handle 17 actuable by the user. Indeed, the axis 20 is movable in translation in the housing 45 of the upper connecting member 37 between a position in which the pin 13 is above or in contact with the curvilinear surface 12 and a position in which the pin 13 is in the curvilinear groove 11. The user can actuate the handle 17 to lift the axis 20 and allow the pin 13 to pass over the shoulder 14 of the cam 18 to its position on or above the curvilinear surface 12: the handle 17 therefore forms means 15 for crossing this shoulder 14, as will be specified below.

[0039] Finally, the axis 20 comprises return means 21 for returning the pin 13 into the groove 11, for example a helical compression spring arranged around the body of the axis 20. This spring therefore participates in the automatic locking means 6 with the pin 13 and the shoulder 14. Of course, without such a return means 21, the pin 13 would nevertheless automatically move to its position in the groove 11 by the action of gravity. These return means 21 nevertheless secure this automatic return of the pin 13 into the groove 11, increasing the overall security of the invention.

[0040] With reference to figures 3 to 5, the pivoting in the two opposite directions 8, 10 of the doors 3 will now be described.

[0041] With reference to Figure 3, each door 3 is in its locking position 4, and the guide pin 13 of the axis 20 is housed in the groove 11. If the user tries to pivot the door 3 in the second pivoting direction 10 towards its second release position 5 (Figure 5) without actuating the handle 17 of the axis 20, then the pin 13 will come into abutment against the shoulder 14 and prevent any pivoting of the door 3: the door 3 remains automatically locked in this second direction 10 without any action by the user on the handle 17 of the locking axis 20.

[0042] Advantageously, in order to prevent the cam 18 from exerting too great a force on the upper cup considered 42 - which is made of plastic - when the user attempts to pivot the doors 3 in the second pivoting direction 10 without having actuated the handle 17, which would risk damaging said cup 42, the cam 18 is provided with at least one lug 46 which extends perpendicular to the plane of the cam 18 and which comes into abutment against the body of the upper cup considered 42 when the user leans against the doors 3 in the locking position 4. This ensures a distribution of the forces exerted by the cam 18 on the upper cup 42, avoiding any deterioration of the latter.

[0043] On the other hand, the pivoting of the doors 3 in the first pivoting direction 8 to the first release position 9 (figure 4) above the platform 29 is made possible whatever the position of the axis 20: if the user does not touch the axis 20, the pin 13 remains housed in the groove 11 and can move in said groove 11 during the pivoting of the doors 3 in the first direction 8. In practice, the user can pivot the doors 3 from their blocking position 4 to their first release position 9 whatever the position of the axis 20, which is a strong point in optimizing the ergonomics of the platform 1 and the stepladder 23.

[0044] To enable the doors 3 to pivot from their locking position 4 to their second release position 5, the user must actuate the crossing means 15, i.e. grasp the handle 17 of the two pins 20 (one for each door 3) and lift said pins 20, then keep the raised pins 20 while pivoting the doors 3 from their locking position 4 to their second release position 5. Once the locking position 4 has been exceeded - i.e. each pin 13 has crossed the shoulder 14 of the cam in question 18 - the user can release the handle 17 of each pin 20 whose pin 13 comes into contact with the curvilinear surface 12 of the cam in question 18: each door 3 is then free to pivot to its second release position 5 as long as the pin 13 moves along the curvilinear surface 12.

[0045] Finally, as soon as the user releases the doors 3 arranged in their second release position 5, the return means 22 of the doors 3 bring said doors 3 back to their locking position 4, and once the doors 3 are in their locking position 4, the return means 21 of each axis 20 automatically engage each pin 13 in the groove 11 of the cam in question 18. The doors 3 are then again locked against pivoting towards the second pivoting direction 10.

[0046] The invention therefore makes it possible to secure and optimize the use of the platform 1 and more generally the stepladder 23, by preventing on the one hand the uncontrolled opening of the doors 3 of the gate 50 in one pivoting direction 10, and by facilitating access to the platform 29 in the other pivoting direction 8.

[0047] Finally, the platform 1 and the stepladder 23 of the invention may comprise a single door 3 instead of a saloon-type gate. In this case, the connecting means 39 comprise a single high cup 42, a single cam 18 and a single axle 20.

Claims

Claims

1. Secure access platform (1), comprising a frame (2), a platform (29) connected to the frame (2) and at least one door (3) pivotally connected to said frame (2) between a position for blocking access to the platform (4) and at least one release position (5) allowing access to or exit from the platform (1), automatic blocking means (6) of said door (3) in its blocking position (4), and actuable means for releasing the blocked door (7), which door is further pivotally mounted in a first direction (8) between the blocking position (4) and a first release position (9) in which the door (3) is above the platform (29), and in a second opposite direction (10) between the blocking position (4) and a second opposite release position (5),the automatic locking means (6) of the door (3) in its locking position (4) being activated only when the door (3) returns from its second release position (5), which platform (1) further comprises first means (11) for accompanying the pivoting of the door (3) in the first direction (8) and second means (12) for accompanying the pivoting of the door (3) in the second direction (10), in that it further comprises a guide member (13) which moves either according to the first (11) or according to the second (12) accompanying means according to the pivoting direction considered (8, 10),and in that the blocking means (6) comprise a separation zone (14) between the first (11) and the second (12) accompanying means which: a. can be crossed by the guide member (13) only by actuating the release means (7) for its passage from the first accompanying means (11) to the second accompanying means (12), and b. can be crossed automatically by the guide member (13) for its passage from the second accompanying means (12) to the first accompanying means (11), which release means (7) are connected to the guide member (13) and comprise means (15) for the guide member (13) to cross the separation zone (14) between the first and second accompanying means, (11, 12), characterized in that the first and second accompanying means (11, 12) respectively comprise a groove (11) and an adjacent curvilinear surface (12), arranged at the same distance from a pivot axis of the door (3) and separated by a shoulder forming the separation zone (14), in that the guide member (13) is a pin movable in translation in a direction (16) perpendicular to a plane of extension of the curvilinear surface (12), and in that the crossing means (15) comprise actuable lifting means (17) formed by a handle integral with the guide pin (13).

2. Platform (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a cam (18) integral with the door (3) and pivotally movable with said door (3), which cam (18) comprises the curvilinear groove (11) and a flat (19) comprising the curvilinear surface (12) and the shoulder (14), and a release and locking axis (20) movable in translation in the direction perpendicular (16) to the plane of extension of the curvilinear surface (12), which axis (20) comprises a free end part formed by the guide pin (13) and an opposite end part integral with the handle (17).

3. Platform (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the release and locking axis (20) comprises return means (21) of the guide pin (13) in the groove (11).

4. Platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door (3) comprises return means (22) towards its locking position (4).

5. Platform according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two doors (3) arranged to form a saloon-type access gate (50).

6. A stepladder (23) comprising a secure access platform (1) according to any preceding claim.

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