Device for loading and unloading a load
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NEO-DYNE HOLDING BV
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing devices for loading and unloading loads, such as motorcycles, are not foldable and thus have a total length that is substantial when in a retracted state, making them less convenient for storage and transportation.
The device comprises at least two foldable, elongated frames that are mutually slidable longitudinally when extended, and are foldable in and out simultaneously around a common folding axis using geared hinges with co-operating hinge plates and linkage means to ensure precise alignment and co-axial pivoting.
This configuration allows the device to significantly reduce its total length when folded, providing a more compact and robust solution for loading and unloading loads without distortion issues, and includes a locking mechanism for secure closure.
Smart Images
Figure NL2024050392_30012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Title:
[0002] DEVICE FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING A LOAD
[0003] Description:
[0004] The invention refers to a device for loading and unloading a load, in particular a motor, the device comprising at least two elongated frames which are mutually slidable longitudinally.
[0005] Such device is e.g. known from patent disclosure NL1043962, disclosing a motorcycle ramp, comprising elongated, telescoping frames having rails which are mutually slidable longitudinally.
[0006] An aim of the present invention is to improve the known device by making it foldable, achieving the advantage that the total length of the device, when folded in, is substantial less than the length of the prior art device. A further aim is to provide a very robust kind of hinge, which provides mutual and "co-axial" pivoting around mainly the same common pivoting axis without distortion problems etc. despite the mutual distance between the levels of both co-operatively slidable frames.
[0007] To this end, according to the invention, a device for loading and unloading a load, in particular a motorcycle, is provided, the device comprising at least two foldable, elongated frames which are mutually slidable longitudinally when folded out, said at least two frames being foldable in and out simultaneously around a common folding axis by means of geared hinges, arranged at a folding location of said elongated frames, each of said geared hinges comprising two co-operating hinge plates, extending perpendicular to said common folding axis and provided with mutually engaging teeth arranged around a rotation centre, the rotation centres of each pair of co-operating hinge plates being interconnected by linkage means.
[0008] The invention will now be discussed in more detail with reference to the figure description below. Figure 1 is a figure derived from NL1043962, showing a prior art motorcycle ramp.
[0009] Figures 2-4 show an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, and in particular it's pivoting configuration.
[0010] Figure 1 is derived from NL1043962, showing a prior art ramp for a motorcycle 1 , comprising two mutually slidable and pivoting rail frames 2 and 3, enabling the motorcycle 1 to move up and down a loading platform of e.g. a pickup. Aim of this invention is to shorten the total length of both frames 2 and 3 in retracted state, shown in figure 1 d, by means of folding (i.e. pivoting) both frames 2 and 3 upwardly at a pivoting location indicated by arrow 4.
[0011] Figures 2-4 show an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, and in particular its pivoting configuration, showing two foldable, elongated frames 2a-b and 3a-b (comparable with the elongated frames 2 and 3 in figure 1) which are mutually slidable longitudinally when folded out, their status shown in figure 2, wherein the frame parts 2a and 2b and 3a and 3b respectively are fully stretched.
[0012] Both frames 2a-b and 3a-b are foldable in and out simultaneously at the pivoting location indicated by arrow 4, about around a common folding axis 5, by means of geared hinges 6a-b, 7a-b, serving the bottom frame parts 2a and 2b, and geared hinges 8a-b and 9a-b, serving the top frame parts 3a and 3b, said geared hinges 6a-9b being mounted at said folding location 4.
[0013] Each of said geared hinges 6a-9b comprise two co-operating hinge plates 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b connected to the frame parts 2a and 2b respectively, and two co-operating hinge plates 8a, 8b, 9a and 9b connected to the frame parts 3a and 3b respectively. The hinge plates 6a-9b extend perpendicular to said common folding axis 5 and are provided with mutually engaging teeth 10 arranged around a rotation centre 11 , the rotation centres 11 of each pair of co-operating hinge plates being interconnected by linkage means, formed by two chain links 12, to be seen in figure 4. Each hinge thus comprises two hinge plates 6a-9b having equal thickness, each "sandwiched" between two chain links 12, providing for exact alignment of each pair of two co-operating hinge plates 6a-9b.
[0014] The pivot points of both plates are shaped as gears so that when several of these hinges are used in unison, they open and close in unison, guided by the gears. A locking mechanism 13 may be provided to keep the hinges locked to each other in e.g. the closed position.
[0015] Thus the present invention is able to improve the prior art device by making it foldable, achieving the advantage that the total length of the device, when folded in, is substantial less than the length of the prior art device. The hinge configuration provides mutual and "co-axial" pivoting around mainly the same common pivoting axis 5 without distortion problems etc. despite the mutual distance d between the level of the bottom frame 2a-b and the top frame 3a-b.
[0016] Finally, the present invention could be summarized as follows:
[0017] Device for loading and unloading a load, in particular a motorcycle (1), the device comprising at least two foldable, elongated frames (2a-b,3a-b) which are mutually slidable longitudinally when folded out, said at least two frames being foldable in and out simultaneously around a common folding axis (5) by means of geared hinges, arranged at a folding location (4) of said elongated frames, each of said geared hinges comprising two co-operating hinge plates (6a-9b), extending perpendicular to said common folding axis and provided with mutually engaging teeth (10) arranged around a rotation centre (11), the rotation centres of each pair of co-operating hinge plates being interconnected by linkage means (12).
Claims
CLAIMS1. Device for loading and unloading a load, in particular a motorcycle (1), the device comprising at least two foldable, elongated frames (2a-b,3a-b) which are mutually slidable longitudinally when folded out, wherein said at least two frames are foldable in and out simultaneously around a common folding axis (5) by means of geared hinges, arranged at a folding location (4) of said elongated frames, wherein each of said geared hinges comprises two co-operating hinge plates (6a-9b), extending perpendicular to said common folding axis and provided with mutually engaging teeth (10) each being arranged around a rotation centre (11), wherein the rotation centres of each pair of co-operating hinge plates are interconnected by linkage means (12).