Portable long slope device

Abstract

To provide a portable slope device which is excellent in transportability and handling even though it is a long slope device.SOLUTION: Two rectangular plates 11, 12 arranged side by side with their long edges facing each other are connected by a hinge 5 so that they can be freely folded. A first slope 2 and a second slope 3, which are capable of assuming an expanded posture in which the two plates 11, 12 are spread out flat and a stored posture in which the two plates are folded and stored, are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the slope and can be connected and separated by a connecting mechanism 4 disposed between them. With this configuration, unlike the case of using a long integrated slope device, the slope device does not have to be too long to be loaded onto a transport vehicle, and the greatest advantage of the portable slope device is its portability, which improves its convenience. In addition, since the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 can be moved separately in a separated state and are lightweight, the portable slope device is extremely easy to handle when moving it.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable slope device that can be bent in the width direction of an aisle. [Background technology]

[0002] A known example of this type of portable slope device is shown in Patent Document 1. This slope device is constructed by arranging two rectangular slope pieces side by side with their long side edges facing closely to each other, and by connecting the two slope pieces in a bendable manner and integrating them with an elastic sheet material attached to the facing parts. This slope device is installed on a step and used as a wheelchair passageway, while when transporting the slope device, the two slope pieces are folded from their connecting parts and stored, and transported in this stored state.

[0003] However, since such a slope device is composed of two integrally formed slope pieces, in order to accommodate an increase in the installation distance (i.e., the horizontal distance between the high surface and the low surface on which the slope device is installed), it is necessary to increase the length of each slope piece and thereby increase the length of the slope device.

[0004] However, when the length of the slope device is increased in order to accommodate an increase in the installation distance, problems arise, such as the inability to load and transport the slope device itself due to the length of the cargo compartment of some transport vehicles, and the increase in weight that accompanies the lengthening of the slope device impairs the transportability and handling that are the greatest advantages of a portable slope device.

[0005] One technique proposed to address this problem is shown in Patent Document 2, in which the slope device is configured so that it can be folded in half from approximately the center of its length for compact storage, and is erected in an unfolded state when the slope device is in use, and is stored when not in use, such as during transportation.

[0006] However, although this slope device ensures portability by transport vehicle by achieving a compact size during transportation, the weight of the slope device is the same whether it is deployed or stored, so there is no improvement in the transportability and handling of the slope device.

[0007] On the other hand, in Patent Document 3, two rectangular plate materials are arranged side by side so as to face each other in the plate material width direction, and the facing parts are connected by a sheet material so as to be bendable, while the two plate materials are divided at approximately the center of the slope longitudinal direction. At the divided part, a plurality of protrusions are provided on the end face part of one of the opposing plate materials, and a hole-shaped receiving part is provided on the end face part of the other plate material, and the two plate materials are integrated and used as a slope device by fitting the protrusions on one plate material to the receiving part on the other plate material, while the slope device can be divided into two by releasing the fitting state. Note that the above structure is assumed to be a case in which the structure of Figures 1 to 5 is applied to the form of Figure 6, and Patent Document 3 does not clearly describe it.

[0008] However, in the slope device of Patent Document 3, the protrusions on one plate side of the slope device and the receiving parts on the other plate side must be engaged and disengaged from the slope longitudinal direction, so that a working space of at least the length of the engaging part must be secured in the slope longitudinal direction, and the installation site is likely to be subject to constraints on the working space. Also, since it is necessary to simultaneously engage multiple protrusions arranged in the width direction of the plate with multiple receiving parts also arranged in the width direction of the plate, this engaging and disengaging operation is relatively difficult, and the operation becomes even more difficult when the engaging and disengaging operation is performed in the stored state in particular. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-143260 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2011-84996 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2016-67518 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT The present invention has been made with an object to provide a portable slope device that is long enough to accommodate longer mounting distances, yet has excellent transportability and handling properties. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In the present invention, the following configuration is adopted as a specific means for solving the above problems.

[0012] The portable slope device of the first invention of the present application is characterized in that the first slope and the second slope, which are made up of two long rectangular plates arranged side by side with their long side edges closely facing each other and connected in a freely foldable manner by a hinge section, can assume an expanded position in which the two plates are spread out flat and a stored position in which the two plates are folded and stored, are arranged in a row along the length of the slope and can be connected and separated by a connecting mechanism disposed between them.

[0013] A second invention of the present application is characterized in that, in the portable slope device according to the first invention, the connecting mechanism comprises a first connecting rail attached to an end of the first slope facing the second slope in the slope width direction, the first connecting rail being composed of two rail pieces attached so as to correspond to each of the two plate materials, and a second connecting rail attached to an end of the second slope facing the first slope in the slope width direction, the second connecting rail being composed of two rail pieces attached so as to correspond to each of the two plate materials, and when the first connecting rail and the second connecting rail are engaged, the first slope and the second slope are connected in the slope longitudinal direction, and when the engagement and disengagement state is performed, the first slope and the second slope are separated.

[0014] The third invention of the present application is characterized in that, in the portable slope device relating to the first or second invention, the first slope and the second slope are configured to be capable of assuming an deployed posture and a stored posture in both a connected state and a separated state. Effect of the Invention

[0015] The present inventions provide the following effects.

[0016] (a) In the portable slope device of the first invention of the present application, a first slope and a second slope are connected in the longitudinal direction of the slope by engaging a first connecting rail with a second connecting rail in a connecting mechanism to form a long slope device, while the first slope and the second slope are separated by engaging and disengaging the first connecting rail with the second connecting rail.

[0017] (a-1) Therefore, when a slope device with a long installation distance is required, the first slope and the second slope can be connected in the slope longitudinal direction, and when transporting, the first slope and the second slope can be separated and moved separately on a transport vehicle. As a result, unlike the case of using a long integrated slope device, for example, the slope device is too long to be loaded onto a transport vehicle, and the portability and transportability, which are the greatest advantages of a portable slope device, are ensured, improving its commercial value.

[0018] (a-2) Furthermore, when an integrated slope device is used, it is long and heavy, making it difficult to handle when moving it. However, with the portable slope device of this invention, the first slope and the second slope can be moved separately in a separated state, and therefore the objects to be moved (i.e., the first slope and the second slope) are short in length and each is lightweight, making the portable slope device extremely easy to handle when moved.

[0019] (b) In addition to the effect described in (a) above, the second invention of the present application provides the following unique effect: That is, in this invention, the connecting mechanism comprises a first connecting rail attached to an end of the first slope facing the second slope in the slope width direction, the first connecting rail being made up of two rail pieces attached so as to correspond to each of the two plate materials, and a second connecting rail attached to an end of the second slope facing the first slope in the slope width direction, the second connecting rail being made up of two rail pieces attached so as to correspond to each of the two plate materials, and when the first connecting rail and the second connecting rail are in an engaged state, the first slope and the second slope are connected in the slope longitudinal direction, and when the first connecting rail and the second connecting rail are in an engaged / disengaged state, the first slope and the second slope are separated.

[0020] For this reason, when connecting and disconnecting the first slope and the second slope, the first slope and the second slope can be moved relative to each other in the slope width direction, and almost no work space is required in the longitudinal direction of the slope. Therefore, compared with cases where it is essential to secure work space in the longitudinal direction of the slope, such as a slope device having a plug-in type connecting structure as shown in Patent Document 3, the adaptability of the slope device to the installation site is improved, and the installation and removal work of the slope device can be easily performed, which is extremely useful in portable slope devices where such work is inevitably required.

[0021] (c) In addition to the effects described in (a) or (b) above, the portable slope device according to the third invention of the present application has the following unique effects. That is, in this invention, the first slope and the second slope are configured to be able to take the deployed position and the stored position in both the connected and separated states, so that, for example, when the first slope and the second slope are connected and separated in a state where both are in the stored position, it is sufficient to relatively move the first slope and the second slope by about half the rail length of the first connecting rail or the second connecting rail. That is, the working space in the slope width direction required for the connection and separation work of the first slope and the second slope is only about half the rail length of the first connecting rail or the second connecting rail, which further improves the adaptability of the slope device to the installation site. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an erected state of a portable slope device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable slope device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the portable slope device shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a perspective view showing the portable slope device shown in FIG. 2 in a stored state folded at a hinge portion. [Diagram 5] 5 is a perspective view showing a transitional state of a connecting operation or a transitional state of a disconnecting operation of the portable slope device shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connecting rail applied to the first slope. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connecting rail applied to the second slope. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] 1 to 3 show a portable slope device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This slope device 1 is configured with a first slope 2 and a second slope 3 described below, and is an elongated body in which the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are connected in the slope longitudinal direction, and is used by being installed between a high surface F1 and a low surface F2 of a step portion. When the slope device 1 is not in use, it can be separated into the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 as shown in FIG. 3. The structures of the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 will be specifically described below.

[0024] "First Slope 2" The first slope 2 is configured by arranging a pair of long rectangular plates 11, 12 side by side with their long side edges closely facing each other, and by connecting these closely facing parts in a freely foldable manner by a band-shaped hinge section 5. The first slope 2 can selectively take an unfolded position (see Figs. 1 and 2) in which the two plates 11, 12 are unfolded in a plane, and a stored position (see Figs. 4 and 5) in which the two plates 11, 12 are folded at the hinge section 5.

[0025] Furthermore, strip-shaped wheel stops 7 are provided on the long edge portions of the first plate 11 and the second plate 12 located at both ends in the slope width direction when the first slope 2 is in the deployed position, and the inside portions of these left and right wheel stops 7, 7 serve as running surfaces 9 that have been treated for abrasion resistance, for example, by resin coating. Note that, as will be described later, end faces 7a of the wheel stops 7 function as part of the load support portion when the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are connected.

[0026] Furthermore, at one end of the first slope 2 in the slope longitudinal direction, end members 13 serving as hooks to the high surface F1 side are provided in correspondence with the first plate material 11 and the second plate material 12. On the other hand, at the other end 2b of the first slope 2 in the slope longitudinal direction, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, rail pieces 41A and 41B having a substantially U-shaped cross section are provided in correspondence with the first plate material 11 and the second plate material 12, respectively, with their open grooves facing the running surface 9. These two rail pieces 41A and 41B cooperate to form a first connecting rail 41, which, together with a second connecting rail 42 (see Figure 7) provided on the second slope 3 side described below, constitutes a connecting mechanism 4 having a function of connecting and separating the first slope 2 and the second slope 3.

[0027] "Second Slope 3" The second slope 3 has the same structure as the first slope 2, and is configured by arranging a pair of rectangular plates 21, 22 side by side with their long side edges closely facing each other, and connecting these closely facing parts so as to be freely bent by a band-shaped hinge portion 6. The second slope 3 can selectively take an unfolded position (see Figs. 1 and 2) in which the two plates 21, 22 are unfolded in a plane, and a stored position (see Figs. 4 and 5) in which the two plates 21, 22 are folded at the hinge portion 6. In addition, band-shaped wheel stops 8 are provided on the long side edges of the first plate 21 and the long side edges of the second plate 22 located at both ends in the slope width direction in the unfolded position of the second slope 3, and the inner parts of these left and right wheel stops 8, 8 are made into a running surface 9 that has been subjected to an abrasion-resistant treatment, such as a resin coating.

[0028] Furthermore, strip-shaped wheel stops 8 are provided on the long edge portions of the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 located at both ends in the slope width direction when the second slope 3 is in the deployed position, and the inner portions of these left and right wheel stops 8, 8 serve as running surfaces 9 that have been subjected to an abrasion resistance treatment, for example, a resin coating. Note that, as will be described later, the end faces 8a of the wheel stops 8 function as load support portions when the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are connected.

[0029] 3 and 7, rail pieces 42A, 42B having a substantially U-shaped cross section are provided at one end 3a of the second slope 3 in the slope longitudinal direction, corresponding to the first plate material 21 and the second plate material 22, respectively, with their open grooves facing the opposite side (i.e., the back side) of the running surface 9. These two rail pieces 42A, 42B cooperate to form a second connecting rail 42, which, together with the first connecting rail 4 provided on the second slope 3 side, constitutes a connecting mechanism 4 having a function of connecting and separating the first slope 2 and the second slope 3.

[0030] On the other hand, at one end side of the second slope 3 in the slope longitudinal direction, end members 14 that correspond to the first plate material 21 and the second plate material 22 and serve as placement portions for the lower surface F2 are provided.

[0031] "Explanation of the connecting structure between the first slope 2 and the second slope 3" As described above, the rail pieces 41A, 41B are attached to the ends of the first plate 11 and the second plate 12 of the first slope 2 with their respective open grooves facing the running surface 9. Moreover, the rail pieces 42A, 42B are attached to the ends of the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 of the second slope 3 with their respective open grooves facing the back side.

[0032] In addition to the deployed posture as shown in FIG. 1, the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 can be folded up at the hinge portions 5 and 6, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4, to take a stored posture.

[0033] "Coupling operation when the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are both in the deployed position" When the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are both in the deployed position, the rail pieces 41A, 41B on the first slope 2 side and the rail pieces 42A, 42B on the second slope 3 side are both positioned coaxially.

[0034] Therefore, when the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are both in the deployed position, the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 can be coupled together by fitting the rail pieces 41A, 41B of the first connecting rail 41 into the rail pieces 42A, 42B of the second connecting rail 42 of the second slope 3 from one end side in the slope width direction of the first slope 2. Moreover, a disconnection operation can be achieved by performing the above-mentioned procedure in reverse.

[0035] "Connection operation when the first ramp 2 and the second ramp 3 are both in the stored position" On the other hand, when the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are both in the stored position, the rail pieces 41A, 41B on the first slope 2 side and the rail pieces 42A, 42B on the second slope 3 side are arranged in two rows side by side in a state where they are folded back at the hinge portion 5 or the hinge portion 6, as shown in enlarged views in Figures 4 and 5, respectively. The left and right cut-off ends of the rail pieces 41A, 41B of the first connecting rail 41 are exposed and open at both ends of the first slope 2, and the left and right cut-off ends of the rail pieces 42A, 42B are exposed and open at both ends of the second slope 3, respectively.

[0036] Therefore, when the first slope 2 in the storage posture is viewed from the outside of the unfolded side, one ends of the rail pieces 41A, 41B open side by side, and when viewed from the outside of the folding side by the hinge portion 5, the other ends of the rail pieces 41A, 41B open side by side. Also, when the second slope 3 in the storage posture is viewed from the outside of the unfolded side, one ends of the rail pieces 42A, 42B open side by side, and when viewed from the outside of the folding side by the hinge portion 6, the other ends of the rail pieces 42A, 42B open side by side.

[0037] As a result, the rail pieces 42A, 42B of the second connecting rail 42 on the second slope 3 side are fitted into the rail pieces 41A, 41B of the first connecting rail 41 on the first slope 2 side in the axial direction, and the connection between the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 is realized by the interlocking action between the rail pieces 41A, 41B and the rail pieces 42A, 42B.

[0038] In this way, the connection and disconnection operations of the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are possible whether the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are both in the stored position or both in the deployed position. However, from the viewpoint of keeping the relative movement amount between the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 small and reducing the working space, it is preferable to adopt the former operating form (i.e., the connection and disconnection operations when the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are both in the stored position).

[0039] "Advantages of coupling operation in stowed position" 4 and 5 show the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 in the stored position when the coupling operation is performed with both the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 in the stored position. In these figures, the first plate 11 and the second plate 12 of the first slope 2 are slightly open with the hinge portion 5 as the starting point. Similarly, the third plate 21 and the fourth plate 22 of the second slope 3 are slightly open with the hinge portion 6 as the starting point.

[0040] When the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are transported, the first plate material 11 and the second plate material 12, and the third plate material 21 and the fourth plate material 22 are attracted and fixed by an appropriate fixing means, so that in this fixed and held state, the first plate material 11 and the second plate material 12, and the third plate material 21 and the fourth plate material 22 are stored approximately parallel to each other.

[0041] However, when the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are connected, the fixing means is removed, and therefore the first plate material 11 and the second plate material 12 of the first slope 2, and the third plate material 21 and the fourth plate material 22 of the second slope 3, are subjected to the elastic force of the hinge portion 5 or the hinge portion 6 and tend to open slightly, but are also able to open and close slightly.

[0042] In this state, when the rail pieces 41A, 41B of the first connecting rail 41 on the first slope 2 side are fitted axially to the rail pieces 42A, 42B of the second connecting rail 42 on the second slope 3 side, fitting them while moving the first connecting rail 41 side of the first slope 2 and the second connecting rail 42 side to the second slope 3 appropriately in the opening / closing direction promotes centering between the two, making it easier to fit the two together and making the connecting operation of the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 smoother. This is the advantage of the connecting operation in the stored position.

[0043] Incidentally, when performing the connecting operation while the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are fixed by their respective fixing means, it is necessary to align the rail pieces 41A, 41B of the first connecting rail 41 on the first slope 2 side with the rail pieces 42A, 42B of the second connecting rail 42 on the second slope 3 side with high precision, which means that the connecting operation takes time.

[0044] "Ensuring rigidity when the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are connected" As shown in FIG. 1, when the first slope 2 and the second slope 3 are connected in the slope longitudinal direction and a long slope device is installed between the high surface F1 and the low surface F2 of the step portion to be used as a passage for wheelchairs, for example, it is necessary to ensure the rigidity of the connecting mechanism 4. In the slope device 1 of this embodiment, the rail pieces 41A and 41B of the first connecting rail 41 on the first slope 2 side and the rail pieces 41A and 41B of the second connecting rail 42 on the second slope 3 side are The rigidity of the connecting mechanism 4 is ensured by the synergistic effect of the connecting and locking action of 42A, 42B and the bending deformation suppression action of the first slope 2 and the second slope 3, which is caused by the end face 7a of the wheel stopper 7 on the first slope 2 side and the end face 8a of the wheel stopper 8 on the second slope 3 side abutting at a position radially spaced from the center position of the connecting mechanism 4, as shown in an enlarged view in Figure 2, thereby preventing excessive bending of the slope device 1 and providing a slope device 1 that is safe and reliable. [Industrial Applicability]

[0045] The portable slope device according to the present invention is widely used mainly in the field of nursing care. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Slope device 2. First Slope 3. Second Slope 4 ·Connection mechanism 5 Hinge part 6 Hinge part 7 Wheel chock 8 Wheel chock 9. Running surface 11 · 1st plate material 12 ·Second plate material 13 · End member 14 · End member 21 · 1st plate material 22 ·Second plate material 41 First connecting rail 42 Second connecting rail F1 ···High plane F2 ··Low level

Claims

1. A portable slope device characterized in that a first slope and a second slope are formed by two long rectangular plates arranged side by side with their long side edges closely facing each other and connected in a freely foldable manner by a hinge portion, and the two plates can be deployed in a flat deployed position and the two plates can be folded and stored in a stored position, and the first slope and the second slope are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of the slope and can be connected and separated by a connecting mechanism disposed between them.

2. In claim 1, The portable slope device is characterized in that the connecting mechanism comprises a first connecting rail attached to an end of the first slope facing the second slope in the slope width direction, the first connecting rail being composed of two rail pieces attached so as to correspond to each of the two plate materials, and a second connecting rail attached to an end of the second slope facing the first slope in the slope width direction, the second connecting rail being composed of two rail pieces attached so as to correspond to each of the two plate materials, and when the first connecting rail and the second connecting rail are in an engaged state, the first slope and the second slope are connected in the slope longitudinal direction, and when the engaged and disengaged state, the first slope and the second slope are separated.

3. In claim 1 or 2, A portable slope device, characterized in that the first slope and the second slope are configured to be capable of taking an deployed position and a stored position in either a connected state or a separated state.

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