slope

Abstract

To provide a slope that can be stored compactly and transported, and can flexibly adapt to various road conditions such as steps, obstacles, and grooves. [Solution] The slope of the present invention can be stored and transported in a rolled-up state, and is unfolded from the rolled-up state when in use. The slope 1 comprises a main plate 31 that functions as a road surface, and multiple connected slope members each having side frames 32, 32 that support both ends of the main plate 31. The side frame 32 of one slope member is connected to the side frame 32 of another adjacent slope member via a rotating shaft so as to be rotatable. In addition, the multiple slope members are connected so that a long and narrow gap is formed between the main plate 31 of one slope member and the main plate 31 of the other adjacent slope member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a slope (a foldable slope device) that can be wound into a roll for storage and transportation, and is deployed and used from the wound state when in use.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, slopes used to eliminate steps generally have a large integral structure. For example, a slope composed of a single plate material or a shape close to it can be cited.

[0003] Such conventional slopes are large and heavy, and there is a problem that they are difficult to handle even when frequently carried around at a construction site or when unloading a truck. In addition, since conventional slopes have a large and integral structure, they are bulky when stored, and it has been pointed out that they are a heavy burden on users with physical limitations or on sites that require lighter equipment. Furthermore, when the slope is lengthened to cope with a large step, the weight of the slope increases accordingly, and there is also a problem that it becomes difficult to carry it alone. In addition, since conventional slopes mainly aim to overcome steps (height differences), there is a problem that they cannot cope with uses such as crossing convex obstacles such as separation zones and curbstones. On the other hand, although slopes that are made compact and lightweight by combining a plurality of members have been developed, there are cases where the assembly and connection are complicated and cumbersome, or where they are not sufficient in terms of strength and stability.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In view of the problems of the prior art described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a slope that has sufficient strength as a slope, can be compactly stored and transported, and can further flexibly adapt to various environments such as steps, obstacles, and grooves (road surfaces, floor surfaces, work floors, etc.) and enables safe passage.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The above object is achieved by a slope that can be stored and transported in a rolled state, and when in use, is deployed from the rolled state. In the slope, a plurality of slope members are connected, each slope member having a main body plate for receiving the load of an object passing over the slope and side frames for supporting both ends of the main body plate. The side frame of one slope member and the side frame of an adjacent other slope member are rotatably connected via a rotation axis.

[0006] In the above slope, the plurality of slope members are connected such that a gap is formed between the main body plate of one slope member and the main body plate of an adjacent other slope member.

[0007] Further, in the above slope, the side frame of the slope member has a hole for passing the rotation axis and a contact portion that can contact the connected adjacent side frame.

[0008] Further, the above slope further has a safety cover for covering the gap or boundary between adjacent side frames. This safety cover is made of, for example, a flexible resin.

[0009] Further, in the above slope, a hand-holding hole is formed in the side frame of the slope member.

[0010] Further, in the above slope, end plates are rotatably connected via a rotation axis to the slope members at one or both ends of an assembly composed of a plurality of slope members.

[0011] Further, in the above slope, the number of constituent slope members can be increased or decreased.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] The slope of the present invention has a configuration in which a plurality of slope members are rotatably connected via a rotation axis and can be wound into a roll shape for storage and transportation. As a result, when not in use, the slope can be compactly wound up, making it easy to carry and store.

[0013] Further, the slope of the present invention provides a gap between the main body plate of one slope member and the main body plate of another adjacent slope member. This makes it difficult for fingers or hands to be pinched even if they accidentally get caught between the main body plates, improving safety.

[0014] Further, the slope of the present invention is provided with holes and abutting portions for passing a rotation axis through the side frames of the slope members, and is rotatably connected within a predetermined angle range. When the slope is in use, adjacent side frames abut against each other to support the load, so the slope can be reliably held in a stable deployed position, enhancing safety and strength.

[0015] Further, the slope of the present invention is provided with a safety cover for covering the gaps or boundaries between adjacent side frames. This safety cover can prevent fingers, clothing, luggage, etc. from entering the gaps between the side frames when the slope is wound into a roll or deployed, reducing the risk of accidents due to pinching or snagging. Similarly, it can also prevent luggage passing over the slope or the clothing of workers from entering the gaps.

[0016] In addition, in the slope of the present invention, by forming the safety cover with a flexible resin, when the slope is wound into a roll for storage (i.e., when the slope member is rotated), the external force associated with the rotation causes the safety cover to naturally come off. As a result, it is not necessary to manually remove the safety cover, and smooth storage work of the slope becomes possible.

[0017] Moreover, in the slope of the present invention, a hand-holding hole is formed in the side frame of the slope member. Therefore, the user can insert a hand into the hand-holding hole to grasp the side frame, making it easier to hold and carry the slope. As a result, there is no need to insert a hand into the gap between the main body plates deliberately to lift it, and the effect of reducing the risk of pinching fingers or hands between the main body plates can be obtained. Therefore, along with the improvement of portability, safety can be ensured.

[0018] Also, in the slope of the present invention, an end plate with an inclined structure is rotatably connected to the slope member at one end or both ends (either one or both of the start end and the end end) of an assembly composed of a plurality of slope members via a rotating shaft. As a result, it becomes easier to place a trolley, luggage, etc. on the start end of the slope, and it also becomes easier to unload from the end end, and the step when passing on the slope can be reduced. Furthermore, since the end plate can rotate freely, the tip can easily change the angle according to the ground surface, floor surface, etc., and it becomes possible to "fit perfectly" with almost no step. Therefore, the workability of loading and unloading luggage and the adhesion to the ground surface are improved, and the advantages of reducing risks such as vibration and stumbling can be obtained.

[0019] In addition, since the slope of the present invention is configured so that the number of slope members constituting the slope (the number of slope members constituting the slope) can be increased or decreased, it is possible to freely adjust the length of the slope according to the purpose of use of the slope, the installation environment, etc. As a result, in situations where an extremely long slope is not required, the number of slope members can be reduced, facilitating handling. On the other hand, when it is desired to handle larger steps or wider areas, slope members can be added to ensure sufficient length. Consequently, the slope can be optimized according to the application, site conditions, and installation space, further enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of conveying operations and step elimination.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] The slope of the present invention (foldable slope device) can be wound in a roll shape for storage and transportation, and when in use, it is deployed from the rolled state for use, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The slope of the present invention rotatably connects a plurality of slope members (divided parts of the slope), and when using Slope 1, these are expanded to function as a passage for crossing steps, grooves, obstacles, etc., and when storing, it can be folded into a roll shape to be compactly grouped together.

[0022] Hereinafter, based on the accompanying drawings, specific embodiments of the slope of the present invention will be described.

[0023] (Configuration of the slope of the present invention) As shown in FIG. 1, the slope 1 of the present invention mainly consists of · An assembly formed by rotatably connecting a plurality of slope members 3, 3... arranged substantially in parallel, and · End plates 5, 5 connected to both ends of the assembly (the start end side and the end end side of the assembly of slope members).

[0024] Each slope member 3 is a slope divided part (slope constituent member), and each has · A main body plate 31 that is substantially rectangular in plan view and receives the load of an object passing over the deployed slope 1, and · Side frames 32, 32 that support the both ends of the main body plate 31 in a sandwiching manner and has.

[0025] The main body plate 31 is a plate-like member that is substantially rectangular in plan view and receives the load of an object (such as a load, a trolley, a cart, various machines, a wheelchair, an operator, a pedestrian, etc.) passing over the slope 1. The upper surface side of this main body plate 31 functions as a road surface when the slope is in use. The main body plate 31 may be in a form provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs (not shown), and an aluminum alloy or the like is preferably used in order to achieve both rigidity and weight reduction. With such a configuration, the main body plate 31 can obtain sufficient strength to support a sufficient load while being lightweight.

[0026] The side frames 32, 32 support both ends of the main body plate 31, transmit the load of an object passing over the slope to the entire slope, and are members that serve as a pivot connection. The side frames 32 themselves are also formed of a metal material such as an aluminum alloy or a high-strength resin, and are designed to be both strong and lightweight.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, each side frame 32 has arm-shaped connecting portions 41, 42 that extend in opposite directions (left and right directions in FIG. 5). The two protruding arm-shaped connecting portions 41, 42 each have an insertion hole through which a rotation shaft 35 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), which will be described below, can be inserted. The side frame 32 is connected to another adjacent slope member 3 by the rotation shaft 35. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, one connecting portion 41 of the side frame 32 is connected to the connecting portion 42 of another adjacent side frame 32 by the rotation shaft 35. Similarly, the other connecting portion 42 of the side frame 32 is connected to the connecting portion 41 of another adjacent side frame 32 by the rotation shaft 35. In a state where adjacent side frames 32, 32 are connected via the connecting portions 41, 42, the connecting portions 41, 42 are arranged so as to overlap at positions where their insertion holes coincide (positions where the insertion holes face each other). In this way, by rotatably connecting the connecting portion 41 (42) of the side frame 32 to the connecting portion 42 (41) of another adjacent side frame 32 with the rotation shaft 35, it is possible to fold both adjacent side frames while maintaining the connected state.

[0028] In addition, as shown in Fig. 6(b), the side frame 32 is provided with a plate support portion 33 that protrudes inward. The main body plate 31 is supported by the plate support portion 33 with its end face abutting against the inner wall of the side frame 32. Further, the main body plate 31 is fixed to the plate support portion 33 by screws or the like. This prevents the main body plate 31 from coming off or shifting from the side frame 32, enhancing the stability during the use of the slope.

[0029] As shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the side frame 32 of one slope member 3 and the side frame 32 of another adjacent slope member 3 are rotatably connected via a rotating shaft 35 composed of a bolt. Each side frame is provided with a hole for inserting the rotating shaft 35. By means of these rotating shafts 35, the slope members can be deployed at an appropriate angle as shown in the upper part of Fig. 1, and can also be wound up (folded) as shown in the lower part of Fig. 1. The rotating shaft 35 composed of a bolt can be easily removed manually as required. By removing the rotating shaft 35, the side frame 32 of one slope member 3 can be separated from the side frame 32 of another adjacent slope member 3.

[0030] An elongated gap is deliberately provided between the main body plate 31 of one slope member 3 and the main body plate 31 of another adjacent slope member 3. This gap remains open whether the slope is in the deployed state or the wound state. That is, in any state of the slope 1, the main body plate 31 does not interfere with the main body plate 31 of another adjacent one.

[0031] By providing such an elongated gap between the main body plates 31, 31, the risk of fingers or tools getting in is reduced, improving safety. Also, due to the existence of such a gap, it is difficult for the slope members 3 to interfere with each other when the slope 1 is wound into a roll, resulting in a structure that is easy to store. Note that these gaps also have the effect of suppressing rattling and excessive wear caused by contact between the slope members.

[0032] In addition, the side frame 32 of the slope member 3 · has a hole for passing through the rotation shaft 35, · has an abutting portion 36 that can abut against an adjacent connected side frame 32, · and has a hand-holding hole 37 into which a hand can be inserted. It has.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, when the abutting portions 36 of adjacent side frames 3 abut against each other, the slope is held in a predetermined posture (predetermined angle) in the slope deployed state. Further, when the abutting portions 36 abut against each other, the load of an object passing over the slope is transmitted to the entire slope via the side frame 3, and the entire slope can support the load.

[0034] The hand-holding hole 37 is a hole for gripping the side frame 32 through the user's hand or fingers when transporting or storing the slope 1. This hand-holding hole 37 functions as a safe transportation means and serves to prevent the user from accidentally inserting a hand into the gap between the main body plates 31, 31.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the side frame 32 of the slope member 3 is rotatably connected and is configured to abut against the abutting portion of the side frame of another adjacent slope member. Therefore, the side frame can rotate between two positions, namely, the "posture holding position" and the "storable position". When the side frame 32 is in the "posture holding position" as shown in FIG. 4, even if a load is applied to the deployed slope 1, the side frames 32 of the respective slope members 3 abut against each other at the abutting portions 36 to suppress excessive angular displacement and maintain a stable passage state. When the side frame 32 is in the "storable position", the abutting portions 36 are separated from each other, and the adjacent slope members 32 are folded. That is, when the adjacent side frames 32 are connected to each other and the abutting portions 36 of both are separated, the entire slope can be wound up in a roll shape as shown in Fig. 2(b). As a result, the slope 1 can be stored compactly.

[0036] Further, the slope 1 of the present invention includes an end plate 5 having an inclined structure. This end plate 5 has a structure that is substantially wedge-shaped in a side view with a pointed tip. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, the end plate 5 is rotatably connected to the slope members 3 on the start end side and the end side via rotation shafts 55, respectively.

[0037] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, the end plate 5 has an arm-shaped connecting portion 51 for connection, and an insertion hole through which the rotation shaft 35 can be inserted is formed in the protruding connecting portion 51. The connecting portion 51 of the end plate 5 is overlapped with the connecting portion 41 provided in the slope member 3 on the start end side at a position where the rotation axes of both coincide, and is connected by the rotation shaft 55. Similarly, the connecting portion 51 of the end plate 5 is overlapped with the connecting portion 42 provided in the slope member 3 on the end side at a position where the rotation axes of both coincide, and is connected by the rotation shaft 55.

[0038] The angle of the end plate 5 changes appropriately according to the ground surface or the step portion. Due to this rotation mechanism, when loading and unloading a cart or luggage, the step can be smoothly overcome, improving workability and safety.

[0039] Further, the slope 1 of the present invention has a safety cover 7 for covering the gap or boundary between adjacent side frames 32. Since the safety cover 7 is formed of a flexible resin, it follows the external force received when the slope 1 is wound in a roll shape and can be naturally detached as needed. Thereby, there is no trouble of manually removing the safety cover 7, improving the convenience during storage, and obtaining the effect of preventing pinching and catching.

[0040] Note that the safety cover 7 is rotatably attached near the outer peripheral portion of the side frame 32. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the deployed state, it covers the gap between the side frames 32 and contributes to accident prevention. When folded into a roll shape, it deforms flexibly and naturally detaches without interfering with the rotation of the slope member 3.

[0041] In addition, in the slope 1 of the present invention, since a plurality of slope members 3 are detachably connected by a rotating shaft 35 made of a bolt, the number of components of the slope member can be easily increased or decreased. That is, the user can remove the unnecessary slope member 3 by removing the bolt, and can also easily attach an additional slope member 3 by connecting it with a bolt as needed.

[0042] Thereby, by adding the slope member 3, a long slope can be configured, and it becomes possible to secure a large step or a wide passage. On the other hand, when a long slope is not required, the slope member 3 can be reduced to make it compact and easy to handle. Thereby, flexibility to cope with an optimal length and shape can be ensured in various scenes such as a construction site or a unloading work.

[0043] As described above, the slope 1 of the present invention rotatably connects a plurality of slope members 3 and includes an end plate 5 and a safety cover 7, so that it is easy to store and transport in a roll shape and can also cope with a large step or an obstacle. Furthermore, since it can be safely and easily transported by the hand-holding hole 37 provided in the side frame 32, it not only realizes weight reduction and compactness, but also reduces the burden on the operator and improves the usability at the site.

[0044] (Operation of the slope of the present invention during storage and deployment) First, the operation during the storage of the slope starts from the unfolded state shown in Fig. 2(a). By rotating each slope member 3 so as to fold it, it approaches a rolled state halfway as shown in Fig. 2(b), and finally reaches the state of being wound into a cylindrical shape as shown in Fig. 2(c). As a result, even if the slope 1 is long, it can be stored compactly, making transportation and storage easy. Note that the safety cover 7 (see Fig. 6) that covers the gap or boundary between the side frames 32 flexibly follows the external force due to the rotation of the side frames 32 during storage and naturally comes off.

[0045] On the other hand, the operation during the deployment of the slope starts from the stored state of being wound into a roll shown in Fig. 2(c). By rotating each slope member 3 to expand it in the reverse procedure, it passes through the intermediate stage of Fig. 2(b) and finally transitions to the unfolded state shown in Fig. 2(a). When each slope member 3 rotates to a predetermined angle in this way, the abutting portions 36 of the side frames 32 abut against each other, forming a "posture holding position" and ensuring a stable passable state. Note that the flexible safety cover 7 (see Fig. 6) is manually returned to a position that covers the gap between the side frames 32 during deployment to prevent pinching of fingers or articles.

[0046] In this way, by storing the slope 1 in the order of Fig. 2(a) → (b) → (c) and deploying the slope 1 in the order of Fig. 2(c) → (b) → (a), the operator can handle the slope simply and safely as needed.

[0047] (Specific usage examples of the slope of the present invention) The slope 1 of the present invention can be used in various on-site environments as exemplified in Figs. 8(a) to 8(c). The following describes each usage example.

[0048] First, Fig. 8(a) shows an example where a slope 1 is installed at a location where a step exists on the floor surface. As shown in the figure, not only can a trolley or a pedestrian smoothly move up and down, but it is also easy to push through a cart loaded with large luggage. Also, since the end plate 5 is adjusted in angle according to the ground surface, the impact during getting on and off can be reduced.

[0049] Subsequently, Fig. 8(b) shows an example where the slope 1 is utilized as a "bridge" at a location where there is a groove or a depression on the ground. As shown in the figure, by using the slope of the present invention, even a relatively large groove can be safely straddled while ensuring sufficient length.

[0050] Finally, Fig. 8(c) shows an example when overcoming a convex obstacle such as a curb or a median strip. As shown in the figure, in the slope of the present invention, a part of it can be bent at an appropriate angle. Thereby, it becomes possible to form a passage so as to straddle the convex obstacle.

[0051] As described above, the slope 1 of the present invention provides a stable and safe passage in various scenes as shown in Fig. 8, such as ascending and descending steps, bridging grooves, and overcoming obstacles. Furthermore, when not in use, it can be rolled up and stored in a roll shape to save space, and it is also excellent for transportation and storage. Therefore, it can be widely utilized from practical sites such as construction sites and unloading operations to welfare applications such as eliminating steps for wheelchairs.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0052] 1 Slope 3 Slope member (slope divided part / slope member / slope segment) 5 End plate 7 Safety cover 31 Body plate 32 Side frame 33 Plate support part 35 Rotation axis 36 Contact part 37 Hand - holding hole 41 Connection part 42 Connecting part 51 Connecting part 55 Rotation axis

Claims

1. A ramp that can be rolled up for storage and transportation, and that is unfolded from the rolled up state when in use. The slope member includes a main body plate and a side frame supporting both ends of the main body plate, and the slope member is connected to a plurality of slope members. A slope characterized in that a side frame of one slope member and a side frame of another adjacent slope member are rotatably connected via a rotation shaft.

2. 2. The slope according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of slope members are connected so that a gap is created between the main body plate of one slope member and the main body plate of another adjacent slope member.

3. The side frame of the slope member is a hole for passing the rotating shaft; a contact portion capable of contacting an adjacent connected side frame; 2. The slope according to claim 1, characterized in that it has

4. 10. The ramp of claim 1, further comprising a safety cover for covering a gap or boundary between adjacent side frames.

5. 5. The slope according to claim 4, wherein the safety cover is made of a flexible resin.

6. 2. The slope according to claim 1, wherein hand-holding holes are formed in the side frames of the slope member.

7. 2. The slope according to claim 1, wherein an end plate is rotatably connected to one or both ends of the assembly of the plurality of slope members via a rotation shaft.

8. 2. The slope according to claim 1, wherein the number of the plurality of slope members can be increased or decreased.

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