Secure access platform.

Abstract

The invention relates primarily to a secure access platform (1), comprising a frame (2) and at least one door (3) pivotally connected to said frame (2) between a position blocking access to the platform (4) and at least one release position (5) allowing access to or exit from the platform (1), characterized in that it comprises means for automatically locking said door (3) in its locked position (4), and actuable means for releasing the locked door (7). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: 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 fields such as the handling of goods or construction and renovation work, users have systems allowing them to access elements located at height, such systems being mostly stepladders or step stools, which do not require support against a fixed vertical wall, and which include a raised platform on which the user remains in a standing position.

[0003] As these platforms are generally located at a height, it has become necessary to introduce safety features such as guardrails to prevent users from falling backwards. A type of guardrail is particularly known that comprises one or two pivoting gates forming an access door: these gates pivot between a position that blocks access to the platform and a clearance position that allows access to or exit from the platform, in which the gates are arranged above the platform.

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

[0005] Although preventing accidental falls, particularly backwards, this design leaves the user with no choice in how to operate the gate, which can lead to careless handling while the user is at height. Furthermore, it is impractical 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 a platform for accessing ergonomics optimized. DESCRIPTION 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 blocking access to the platform and at least one clearance position allowing access to or exit from the platform, characterized in that it comprises means for automatically locking said door in its locked position, and actionable means of releasing the locked door.

[0009] Thus, when the user enters the platform, the door is automatically locked in the closed position, and the user can only exit the platform by activating the door release means. They are therefore completely safe on the platform.

[0010] The platform of the invention may also include the following optional features considered individually or according to all possible technical combinations: - The door is mounted to pivot in a first direction between the blocking position and a first clearance position in which the door is above the platform, and in a second opposite direction between the blocking position and a second opposite clearance position, and in that the automatic locking means of the door in its blocking position are activated only when the door returns from its second clearance position. Thus, the user freely enters the platform by pivoting the door in the first direction of rotation from its locked position to its first release position above the platform. The door, returning to its locked position, remains locked while pivoting in the opposite direction: the user is then protected from falling once positioned on the platform. To descend from the platform, the user activates the release mechanisms and pushes the door in the second opposite direction of rotation to the second release position. Ultimately, the user never needs to pull on the door to access or descend from the platform, which optimizes the ergonomics of the invention. - The platform comprises first means for assisting the pivoting of the door in the first direction and second means for assisting the pivoting of the door in the second direction, in that it further comprises a guiding element which moves either along the first or the second means of assistance depending on the pivoting direction considered, and in that the locking means comprise a separation zone between the first and second means of assistance which: • is passable by the guiding element only by actuating the release means for its passage first means of support towards second means of support, and • is automatically passable by the guidance device for its passage from the second means of accompaniment to the first means of accompaniment. Thus, the pivoting of the door is guided by the movement of a guide element along the first and second support 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 element against said separation zone, while ensuring the ergonomics of the invention by allowing the automatic crossing of said zone by the guide element in the other direction of pivoting of the door. The release means are connected to the guiding element and include means for the guiding element to cross the separation zone between the first and second accompanying means. Thus, the user must activate the means of crossing the guide element to move from the locking position of the door to its second release position. The first and second accompanying means comprise respectively an adjacent curvilinear groove and 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 guiding member is a movable pin translating in a direction perpendicular to an extension plane of the curvilinear surface, and in that the crossing means comprise actuable lifting means formed by a handle attached to the guiding pin. The platform includes a cam fixed to the door and movable to pivot with said door, which cam includes the curvilinear groove and a flat having the curvilinear surface and the shoulder, and a movable release and locking axis with translation in the direction perpendicular to the plane of extension of the curvilinear surface, which axis has a free end portion formed by the guide pin and an opposite end portion fixed to the handle. The axle includes means for returning the guide pin to the groove. The gate includes means for returning it to its locking position. The platform includes two doors arranged to form a saloon-style access gate.

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

[0012] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the description given below, by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying figures, among which:

[0013] Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a stepladder comprising a secure access platform of the invention;

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

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

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

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

[0018] It is first 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 easily be found by referring to another figure.

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

[0020] With reference to [Fig. 1], the invention relates to a stepladder 23 comprising a first 24 and a second 25 pair of uprights 26, 27, the uprights 26, 27 of each 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 leading to a landing 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 include anti-slip elements 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 extending perpendicularly 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 opposite second ends also include anti-slip elements 31 and are configured to come into contact with the ground. The stepladder 23 of the invention is therefore, by way of example, a folding stepladder, shown in [Fig. 1] in its unfolded position.

[0023] The stepladder 23 further includes a guardrail 30 comprising two straight posts 33 each comprising a main body extending perpendicularly to the platform 29 when the stepladder 23 is unfolded, a first end attached 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 other ends of the respective posts 33 by two upper connecting members 37 surrounding said other ends. Each rail may further comprise tool holders 38.

[0025] The stepladder 23 also includes 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 facilitate the handling of the gate 50 when accessing the platform 29 or when descending from said platform 29.

[0026] Each door 3 is movable by pivoting between a so-called blocking position 4, as represented in particular in [Fig.1], in which the two doors 3 are opposite each other to generate a safety perimeter above the platform 29, a first clearance position 9 along a first pivoting direction 8 in which the doors 3 are above the platform 29, and a second opposite clearance position 5 along 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 The upright 27 is considered and has a second end fitted with a pad. The body of each leg 51 is further connected by a translational link to a connecting bar 52, one end of which is also pivotally connected to the body of the upright 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 extended position. Furthermore, the connecting bars 52 allow the pivoting of each leg 51 to be locked relative to the upright 27, which further increases the stability of the stepladder 23 in its extended position.

[0029] Finally, the stepladder 23 includes 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 includes a secure platform 1 comprising the platform 29, the doors 3, the pivoting means for connecting 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 [Fig.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 lower cup 41 in contact with the lower connecting member 36 of the lower rail 34 and an upper cup 42 in contact with the upper connecting member 37 of the upper rail 35.

[0033] Each cup 41, 42 (low or high) has a sleeve 43 into which one of the ends of the door considered 3 is press-fitted, and an annular body 44 surrounding the post considered 33, which body 44 is rotationally movable around the post 33. Furthermore, this annular body 44 rests on a collar-type member (not shown) fixed to the body of the post considered 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 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 curved groove 11 – which forms the first guide means – and a flat 19 having a curved surface 12 – which forms the second guide means – adjacent to the curved groove 11, the curved groove 11 and surface 12 being equidistant from a pivot axis of the door 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 surface curvilinear 12.

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

[0036] The secure platform 1 includes means for automatically locking 6 of each door 3 in its locked position and actuable means for releasing the locked door 3.

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

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

[0039] Finally, the shaft 20 includes means 21 for returning the pin 13 to the groove 11, for example, a helical compression spring disposed around the body of the shaft 20. This spring thus 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 into its position in the groove 11 by the action of gravity. These return means 21 nevertheless secure this automatic return of the pin 13 to the groove 11, increasing the overall safety 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 [Fig.3], each door 3 is in its locking position 4, and the guide pin 13 of the shaft 20 is housed in the groove 11. If the user tries to rotate the door 3 in the second pivoting direction 10 towards its second release position 5 ([Fig.5]) without operating the handle 17 of the shaft 20, then the pin 13 will come to rest against the shoulder 14 and prevent any pivoting of the door 3: the door 3 remains automatically locked in this second direction 10 without action by the user on the handle 17 of the locking shaft 20.

[0042] Advantageously, in order to prevent the cam 18 from exerting too much force on the upper cup 42 – which is made of plastic – when the user attempts to rotate the doors 3 in the second pivoting direction 10 without having operated the handle 17, which could damage said cup 42, the cam 18 is provided with at least one lug 46 which extends perpendicularly to the plane of the cam 18 and which comes against the body of the upper cup 42 when the user leans against the doors 3 in the locked position 4. This ensures a distribution of the forces exerted by the cam 18 on the upper cup 42, preventing any damage to the latter.

[0043] On the other hand, the pivoting of the doors 3 along the first pivoting direction 8 towards the first clearance position 9 ([Fig.4]) above the platform 29 is made possible regardless of 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 the groove 11 during the pivoting of the doors 3 along the first direction 8. Practically, the user can pivot the doors 3 from their locking position 4 towards their first clearance position 9 regardless of 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 allow the doors 3 to pivot from their locked position 4 to their second release position 5, the user must actuate the lifting means 15, that is, grasp the handle 17 of the two axes 20 (one for each door 3) and lift said axes 20, then hold the axes 20 raised while pivoting the doors 3 from their locked position 4 to their second release position 5. Once the locked position 4 has been passed—that is, each pin 13 has passed the shoulder 14 of the cam 18—the user can release the handle 17 of each axis 20, whose pin 13 then comes into contact with the curved surface 12 of the cam 18: each door 3 is then free to pivot to its second release position 5 as long as the pin 13 moves along the curved surface. 12.

[0045] Finally, as soon as the user releases the doors 3 arranged in their second release position 5, the door return means 22 return said doors 3 to their locking position 4, and once the doors 3 are in their position of blocking 4, the return means 21 of each axis 20 automatically engage each pin 13 in the groove 11 of the cam considered 18. The doors 3 are then again blocked 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 a 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 upper cup 42, a single cam 18 and a single axle 20.

Claims

1. Demands 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 platform access blocking position (4) and at least one release position (5) allowing access to or exit from the platform (1), automatic locking means (6) of said door (3) in its locked position (4), and actuable means for releasing the locked door (7), which door is further pivotally mounted in a first direction (8) between the locking 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 locking position (4) and a second opposite release position (5),the automatic locking means (6) of the door (3) in its locked position (4) activating only when the door (3) returns from its second release position (5), which platform (1) further comprises first accompanying means (11) for the pivoting of the door (3) in the first direction (8) and second accompanying means (12) for the pivoting of the door (3) in the second direction (10), in that it further comprises a guide member (13) which moves either along the first (11) or along the second (12) accompanying means in the pivoting direction considered (8, 10), and in that the locking means (6) comprise a separation zone (14) between the first (11) and the second (12) accompanying means which: a. is traversable by the guiding element (13) only by the actuation of the release means (7) for its passage from the first accompanying means (11) to the second accompanying means (12), and b. is automatically traversable by the guidance element (13) for its passage from the second accompanying means (12) to the first accompanying means (11), which release means (7) are connected to the guiding member (13) and include means for crossing (15) by the member guide (13) of 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 an adjacent curvilinear groove (11) and 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 movable pin with translation along a direction (16) perpendicular to an extension plane 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 movable by pivoting 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 by translation along the direction perpendicular (16) to the plane of extension of the curvilinear surface (12), which axis (20) comprises a free end portion formed by the guide pin (13) and an opposite end portion integral with the handle (17).

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

4. Platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gate (3) includes means for returning (22) to 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. Stepladder (23) comprising a secure access platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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