Wheelchair ramp that is easy to deploy and fold.

Abstract

To provide a wheelchair ramp that is easy to deploy and fold. [Solution] The wheelchair ramp is equipped with a ramp support frame, and a ramp plate body is provided on the ramp support frame. Each ramp support frame includes a plurality of support members arranged in parallel, and each support member includes at least two independent member bodies 111. A rectangular cavity is formed inside each member body. Between two adjacent member bodies, a hinge assembly is provided, which includes a first hinge body 31, a stop bolt 32, and a first nut. The support portion of the hinge assembly is connected to the inside of the rectangular cavity, and the hinge portion of the hinge assembly is positioned in the gap between the adjacent member bodies. The internal skeletal surface contact hinge structure ensures ultra-high rigidity after deployment, while the automatic return storage guard plate ensures both safety during use and convenience during storage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of wheelchair slopes, and particularly to a wheelchair slope that is easy to deploy and fold.

Background Art

[0002] An aluminum wheelchair slope is a portable assistive facility designed to assist wheelchair users in overcoming steps and height differences. Generally, it is made of high-strength aluminum alloy, achieving both lightweight, firmness, and durability. The surface is provided with anti-slip stripes or uneven patterns to ensure the stability and safety during the lifting and lowering of the wheelchair. In addition to the above configuration, a general folding wheelchair slope adds a hinge structure, enabling the slope to be folded and stored, significantly reducing the occupied space, being convenient for carrying and storing in the car trunk, and applicable to various flexible scenarios such as temporary entry and exit at home, public transportation, and public facilities. The core of its design is to achieve high load-bearing performance with minimal self-weight. Through detailed ergonomic designs such as edge guard plates and adjustable legs, it ensures the user's independent passage while improving the convenience for assistants. Aluminum folding slopes have become an important tool for improving the flexibility of the barrier-free environment due to their portability, ease of use, and corrosion resistance.

[0003] Chinese Utility Model Publication No. CN216740443U discloses an aluminum alloy folding wheelchair slope with a double-lap joint structure. Referring to its specification and drawings, in this solution, the lengths of the left and right hinge leaves of the stainless steel hinge are made different, so that the left and right outer aluminum plates are arranged alternately and connected with stainless steel blind rivets to enhance the strength.

[0004] However, this solution and existing similar products have the following prominent problems. Most existing folding wheelchair ramps use single-sheet profiles as their primary support structure. Single-sheet profiles have an open, non-closed structure, resulting in small bending and torsional moments of inertia in their cross-section. Because the hinges are directly fixed to the side walls of the single-sheet profiles, when loads, lateral forces, or torsional forces act on the ramp, the profiles are prone to bending and torsional deformation, leading to safety concerns such as swaying of the entire ramp, reduced structural stability, and even hinge detachment or fracture of the profiles.

[0005] In the above design, the left and right hinge structure only allows for stacking in the left-right direction, and a single left-right folding mechanism results in low space utilization efficiency when stored.

[0006] The hinge structure in the above design is excessively simple and generic, and this type of hinge can only provide a guiding force for rotation around an axis. When applied to left-right folding or front-back folding, while it can provide rotational guidance around the axis, it completely lacks lateral support and engagement force, causing the entire ramp to sway significantly during use.

[0007] The guard plates on the outer aluminum plates of the above-mentioned design are fixed in place, creating unnecessary protrusions during transport and storage, which causes many inconveniences during storage and transportation.

[0008] In the above design, the hinge rotates completely freely when the hinge is turned. Therefore, if the appropriate support point is not firmly grasped during deployment or storage, the aluminum plate may suddenly and rapidly flip over, potentially causing a collision with the user or surrounding equipment.

[0009] Existing hinge mounting methods are monolithic, failing to achieve both ease of installation and maintenance and structural rigidity, making them unsuitable for diverse production processes and usage scenarios. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] This invention addresses the structural design challenges of the above-mentioned foldable wheelchair ramp. By adopting a rectangular profile with an integrated closed cross-section as the main support, it fundamentally solves the problem of single-plate profiles being prone to deformation under load. By combining it with a hinge structure that can accommodate both internal and external mounting, it significantly improves the torsional rigidity of the foldable support frame. At the same time, it ensures ultra-high rigidity after deployment with an internal skeletal surface-contact hinge, and achieves both safety during use and convenience during storage with an automatically returning retractable guard plate, with the aim of providing a wheelchair ramp that is easy to deploy and fold. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To achieve the objectives of the above invention, this invention focuses on the aforementioned problems in the structural design of foldable wheelchair ramps and provides a wheelchair ramp that is easy to unfold and fold. The core of this invention lies in adopting an integrated closed-section rectangular profile as the support body, which fundamentally eliminates the problem that single-plate profiles are prone to deformation when subjected to load, and in combining it with a hinge structure that can accommodate both internal and external mounting, thereby significantly improving the torsional rigidity of the foldable support frame. At the same time, an internal skeletal surface-contact hinge ensures ultra-high rigidity after unfolding, and an automatically returning retractable guard plate balances safety during use with convenience during storage.

[0012] The object of this invention is achieved by the following technical means: a wheelchair ramp that is easy to deploy and fold, comprising a ramp support frame, the ramp support frame being provided with a ramp plate body. Each ramp support frame includes a plurality of support members arranged in parallel, and each support member includes at least two independent member bodies. The member bodies are rectangular members with an integral closed cross-section structure and have a rectangular cavity inside. A hinge assembly is provided between two adjacent member bodies, and the support portion of the hinge assembly can be selected to be connected to the inside of the rectangular cavity or fixed to the outer wall of the member body, and the hinge portion of the hinge assembly is positioned in the gap between adjacent member bodies.

[0013] Preferably, each set of the hinge assemblies includes a first hinge body, a stop bolt, and a first nut, and an inclined relief groove is formed at the connection point between two adjacent molded body parts. When the support portion of the hinge assembly is connected to the interior of a rectangular cavity, each of the first hinge bodies includes a plate-shaped support portion and an annular hinge portion integrally extending from the plate-shaped support portion, each plate-shaped support portion being inserted into the interior of the rectangular cavity and in close surface contact with the inner wall of the rectangular cavity, and each annular hinge portion being positioned between the inclined relief grooves. Multiple annular hinge portions are arranged coaxially, and the stop bolt passes through the interior of the multiple annular hinge portions to hinge-connect them, the end of the stop bolt is provided with the first nut, and two adjacent molded body parts are rotatable around the stop bolt.

[0014] Preferably, at least one torsional deformation prevention support block is filled between the plate-shaped support portion of each first hinge body and the inner wall of the rectangular cavity of the molded material body. The outer wall of each torsional deformation prevention support block is in close surface contact with the inner wall of the rectangular cavity, a first inclined support surface is formed at one end of each torsional deformation prevention support block near the annular hinge portion, and a second inclined support surface is formed on the annular hinge portion of each first hinge body. When the end faces of adjacent molded material bodies are in close contact, the second inclined support surface abuts against the first inclined support surface, forming a restrictive structure for improving torsional rigidity that receives load through surface contact.

[0015] In this configuration, a torsional deformation prevention support block is added to the rectangular cavity and, together with the plate-shaped support portion of the first hinge body, fills the internal space, creating an internal skeletal effect and increasing the rigidity of the connection nodes. At the same time, the closed section of the integrated closed-section rectangular profile has a bending and torsional section modulus of more than three times that of conventional single-plate profiles, fundamentally eliminating the problem of deformation of the profile body due to load. The first and second inclined support surfaces come into contact with each other when the slope is fully extended (i.e., when the end faces of the profile body are in close contact), so that the hinge assembly changes from a simple rotational hinge to a load-bearing support capable of receiving vertical and lateral loads when extended. This effectively suppresses swaying when the slope is in use and significantly improves stability, torsional rigidity, and safety in the extended state.

[0016] Preferably, a plurality of first restricting holes penetrating the rectangular cavity are formed in the side wall of each of the molded material bodies, and a plurality of second restricting holes coaxial with the first restricting holes are formed in each of the plate-shaped support parts and the torsional deformation prevention support blocks. A second bolt is provided penetrating the interior of the first and second restricting holes, and a second nut is provided at the end of the second bolt.

[0017] Preferably, a first washer is provided between the head of the stop bolt and the corresponding side wall of the annular hinge portion. A plurality of second washers are provided between the stop bolt and the corresponding side wall of the annular hinge portion, and disc spring washers are further provided between the plurality of second washers, with the protrusions of adjacent disc spring washers in contact with each other. The shaft portion of the stop bolt passes through the interior of the first washer, the second washer and the disc spring washer.

[0018] Preferably, when the support portion of the hinge assembly is fixed to the outer wall of the mold body, each set of the hinge assembly includes two symmetrically arranged L-shaped hinge bases, a hinge pin, and a lock nut. Each L-shaped hinge base includes a vertical mounting plate fixed in close contact with the outer wall of the mold body, and a hinge lug extending integrally from the end of the vertical mounting plate, the vertical mounting plate being in close surface contact with the outer wall of the mold body. The hinge lugs provided on two adjacent mold bodies are arranged coaxially and alternately, the hinge pin passes through the axial holes of all the hinge lugs, and the ends of the hinge pins are fastened and fixed by the lock nuts. This external mounting method does not require processing of the internal cavity of the mold, making installation and maintenance easy. At the same time, because the L-shaped hinge base is fixed to the outer wall of the rectangular profile through surface contact over a wide area, stress is uniformly distributed, deformation of the profile due to point loads is avoided, and the torsional rigidity of the connection nodes can be significantly improved.

[0019] Preferably, a plurality of mounting holes are formed in the vertical mounting plate of each L-shaped hinge base, and fixing holes coaxial with the mounting holes are formed in the outer wall of the mold body. Fastening bolts pass through the mounting holes and the fixing holes, and fastening nuts are provided at the ends of the fastening bolts. When the end faces of adjacent mold bodies are in close contact, the end faces of the vertical mounting plates of two symmetrically arranged L-shaped hinge bases come into contact with each other, forming a support structure for improving lateral torsional rigidity.

[0020] Preferably, a plurality of the slope support frames are provided, the plurality of slope support frames are arranged in parallel, and a plurality of second hinge bodies are provided between the side walls of adjacent slope support frames. The contact surface of each second hinge body is fixed in surface contact with the outer wall of the profile body, and a first hinge hole is formed in each second hinge body, the axis of the first hinge hole is parallel to the side wall of the slope support frame. A first hinge pin is passed through the inside of the first hinge hole of two adjacent second hinge bodies and hinged together.

[0021] Preferably, the second hinge body includes a right-angle portion and a cylindrical portion integrally extending from the right-angle portion, the first hinge hole is formed inside the cylindrical portion, and the shape of the right-angle portion is such that it is in close contact with the outer wall of the rectangular member of the slope support frame. The L-shaped close-fitting design of the second hinge body significantly increases the contact area and connection strength between the hinge and the frame side wall, forming stable surface support. When the two frames are deployed and used, this structure exhibits excellent lateral torsional rigidity and shear rigidity, effectively preventing distortion and displacement between the frames.

[0022] Preferably, a guard plate body is provided on the side wall of each slope support frame, and a plurality of support bosses are provided on the outer wall of the profile body of the slope support frame on the side furthest from the hinge assembly. A second hinge hole is formed inside each support boss, and a plurality of guard hinge bosses are provided on the guard plate body, and a third hinge hole coaxial with the second hinge hole is formed in each guard hinge boss. Each guard hinge boss is fitted between adjacent support bosses, and a second hinge pin is provided passing through the inside of the second hinge hole and the third hinge hole. A torsion coil spring is further provided on the second hinge pin, and the arms of the torsion coil spring are in close contact with the guard plate body and the support boss, respectively.

[0023] This configuration enables two functional states for the guard plate. When in use, the elastic force of the torsion coil spring automatically springs the guard plate up to a vertical protective position. When stored, it can be manually pushed down and secured with a band to lie flat against the slope surface. By cleverly transforming the essential safety protection component into a fully retractable form, the problem of fixed guard plates getting in the way during transport and storage is eliminated, significantly improving the overall portability of the product and the user experience.

[0024] Preferably, a plate mounting groove is formed in the upper wall of each of the profile bodies, the side edge of the slope plate body is fitted and fixed in the plate mounting groove, and the length of the slope plate body is greater than the length of the slope support frame. The slope plate body includes a flat plate, a first arc-shaped plate, and a second arc-shaped plate, the first arc-shaped plate and the second arc-shaped plate are provided on both sides of the flat plate, and the length of the first arc-shaped plate is less than the length of the second arc-shaped plate.

[0025] In this configuration, the slope plate body and the support frame are tightly coupled to form an integrated load-bearing unit, preventing displacement, warping, and detachment of the slope plate during load-bearing and folding. At the same time, because the length of the slope plate body is greater than the length of the slope support frame, both ends are naturally extended to form a transition region, which serves as the foundation for the installation of subsequent arc-shaped plates and ensures structural integrity and the realization of functionality.

[0026] Preferably, an extension plate is provided on the flat plate near the first arc-shaped plate, and a circular boss is provided at the end of the extension plate. The first arc-shaped plate has a hinge fitting groove that fits into the circular boss for attachment, and the rotation angle of the hinge fitting groove with respect to the circular boss is restricted by the extension plate. A third regulating hole is further formed in the circular boss, a third bolt is provided inside the third regulating hole, and a third washer is provided between the head of the third bolt and the side wall of the circular boss.

Advantages of the Invention

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects. 1. Improve the core profile structure and fundamentally solve the problem of deformation: Instead of the conventional single-plate profile, an integral closed-section square profile is adopted. The closed square section has a significantly higher bending and torsional section coefficient compared to the single-plate open section, greatly improving the structural rigidity of the support frame body, completely eliminating the problem that the conventional single-plate profile is prone to bending and torsional deformation under load, and significantly improving the load-bearing performance and service life of the slope. 2. Achieve both rigidity and convenience with the two-way mounting design of the hinge: The hinge assembly can be selectively mounted inside the inner cavity of the square profile or on the outer wall of the profile. The internal mounting method forms a built-in skeleton structure, with higher rigidity at the connection part and excellent torsional rigidity. The external mounting method is easy to install and maintain and can adapt to various production and processing scenarios. Since both methods adopt fixation by surface contact, deformation of the profile caused by point load can be avoided, and the torsional rigidity can be further strengthened. 3. Maximize the space utilization efficiency with the two-stage folding mechanism: As the first stage, by connecting between two slope support frame bodies arranged in parallel with the second hinge body and the first hinge pin, left-right direction reverse stacking is realized. As the second stage, since the hinge assembly rotatably hinge-connects between the two profile bodies, front-back direction folding of the entire slope support frame body composed of the square profile bodies is realized. By adopting composite folding, it can be deformed from a wide-area unfolded state to a finally extremely compact approximate cube storage form, breaking the limitation of a single folding direction, maximizing the space utilization efficiency, and greatly facilitating the storage and transportation of the slope. 4. Exceptional stability achieved through an internal surface-contact type torsional rigidity enhancement structure: The hinge assembly and the connection / load-bearing structure between the rectangular profile are creatively designed. The plate-shaped support part of the hinge and the torsional deformation prevention support block are integrally inserted into the rectangular cavity of the profile body and fastened with a second bolt, thereby achieving internal surface contact fixation. At the same time, the torsional deformation prevention support block and the annular hinge part are provided with a first and second inclined support surface, which are complementary to each other. As a result, in the deployed state, the plate-shaped support part and the torsional deformation prevention support block function like an internal reinforcing skeleton, changing the connection part of the profile from a weak point to a highly rigid node. When the slope is subjected to lateral force, the load is effectively distributed within the cavity of the profile by wide surface contact. More importantly, the precise contact between the first and second inclined support surfaces upon completion of deployment allows the hinge assembly itself to directly participate in load bearing, providing immense lateral force resistance and torsional rigidity, thus granting the folding ramp exceptional stability and rigidity. 5. Improved safety during use through a hinge structure with adjustable damping force: When arranging the annular hinge sections of multiple first hinge bodies in series on a stop bolt, a first washer, multiple sets of second washers, and a core pair of disc spring washers are placed on the head and nut side of the stop bolt, respectively. Tightening the first nut compresses the adjacent disc spring washers, causing the protrusions of the disc spring washers to contact each other and generate a controlled nonlinear frictional force. By adjusting the amount of tightening of the first nut, the rotational damping force between all hinged annular hinge sections can be precisely and continuously changed. This makes folding and unfolding operations stable and slow, completely avoiding the risk of rapid reversal or falling due to gravity, protecting the user and surrounding equipment. After unfolding, adjusting the damping force significantly provides a certain self-locking effect to the hinge section, further increasing the overall rigidity during use. Users can adjust the amount of tightening according to their needs and personal preferences, achieving both safety and ease of operation. 6. The self-returning, retractable guard plate achieves both safety and portability. The guard plate body is hinged to the support boss on the ramp side wall via a guard hinge boss and a second hinge pin, and a torsion coil spring is incorporated into the second hinge pin. The state is secured by combining it with a detachable hook-and-loop fastener band. With this mechanism, when stored, fastening the hook-and-loop fastener band causes the guard plate to adhere flat against the ramp surface against the elastic force of the torsion coil spring, allowing it to be stored in a completely flat state without any protrusions. When in use, simply releasing the band causes the torsion coil spring to automatically spring the guard plate up to the vertical protective position, eliminating the need for manual installation. By cleverly integrating essential safety components into a design that does not affect the overall storage form, the product's portability and user experience are greatly improved. 7. Adaptive fine-adjustment arc structure improves adaptability to uneven terrain. An extension plate with a circular boss is provided on a flat plate, and the first arc-shaped plate is fitted into the circular boss via a hinge fitting groove, thereby creating a fine-adjustment joint that allows the first arc-shaped plate to rotate within a certain angular range. When installing the slope, if the lower surface of the slope support frame does not make complete contact due to the ground conditions, applying pressure to that area causes the first arc-shaped plate to adaptively rotate and fine-adjust around the circular boss, displacing until its side walls are restricted by the extension plate. This fine-adjustment operation changes the contact angle between the slope end and the ground in real time, adaptively changing the load-bearing posture of the entire slope support frame, and ultimately allowing the lower surface of the support frame to make complete contact with the support surface, eliminating any floating state and achieving optimal stability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0028] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view of area A in Figure 2 in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged view of area B in Figure 2 in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of a hinge assembly in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is an exploded view of a hinge assembly in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is an exploded view of a hinge assembly in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is an enlarged view of area C in Figure 9 in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the profile body in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This is a partially exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] This is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a partially exploded view of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] This is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] This is a perspective view of the first or second embodiment of the present invention after it has been folded using a hinge assembly. [Figure 17] This is a perspective view of the first or second embodiment of the present invention after it has been completely folded. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] The present invention will be described in more detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. First Embodiment (Hinge Assembly Internal Type, Specification for Maximizing Torsional Rigidity) As shown in Figures 1 to 4 and Figures 7 to 9, the wheelchair ramp, which is easy to deploy and fold, comprises a ramp support frame 1, and the ramp support frame 1 is provided with a ramp plate body 2. Each ramp support frame 1 includes a plurality of support members 11 arranged in parallel, and each support member 11 includes at least two independent member bodies 111. A hinge assembly 3 is provided between two adjacent member bodies 111.

[0030] The ramp plate body 2 is a component that comes into direct contact with the wheelchair wheels, and its surface supports the rolling motion of the wheelchair wheels. The ramp support frame 1 primarily supports the ramp plate body 2.

[0031] In this embodiment, two slope support frames 1 are provided, and the two slope support frames 1 are arranged in parallel. A plurality of second hinge bodies 12 are provided between the opposing side walls of the two slope support frames 1. Each second hinge body 12 is connected to the side wall of the slope support frame 1, and a first hinge hole is formed in each second hinge body 12. The axis of the first hinge hole is parallel to the side wall of the slope support frame 1, and a first hinge pin 13 passes through the inside of the first hinge hole of two adjacent second hinge bodies 12, forming a hinge connection.

[0032] The mold body 111 is a rectangular aluminum alloy mold with an integrated closed cross-section structure, and a rectangular cavity 112 is formed inside. Compared to conventional single-plate open molds, the integrated closed cross-section rectangular structure significantly improves the second moment of area, and under the same wall thickness and material conditions, the bending rigidity is improved by 320% and the torsional rigidity by 450%, fundamentally eliminating the problem of deformation of the mold body due to load.

[0033] When implementing the system, Figure 1 will be used as the directional reference. Since the support members 11 that make up the slope support frame 1 include two independent rectangular member bodies 111, the slope support frame 1 can be folded by reversing it in the front-to-back direction. During the folding process, the two adjacent member bodies 111 are hinged together by the hinge assembly 3, which restricts and guides rotation. This completes the folding of the slope support frame 1 in the front-to-back direction and reduces the horizontal installation area.

[0034] Subsequently, by reversing the slope support frame 1 in the left-right direction, the two slope support frames 1 can be stacked vertically, further reducing the horizontal installation area. During the reversal process of the slope support frame 1, the first hinge hole of the adjacent second hinge body 12 rotates coaxially, and the first hinge pin 13 plays a role in restricting and guiding the hinge rotation.

[0035] The second hinge body 12 includes a right-angle portion 121 and a cylindrical portion 122 integrally extending from the right-angle portion 121, with the first hinge hole formed inside the cylindrical portion 122. This configuration ensures that the shape of the right-angle portion 121 is in perfect contact with the flat outer wall of the rectangular profile body 111, thereby increasing the contact area between the entire second hinge body 12 and the side wall of the support profile 11, and improving the strength of the connecting structure. When the entire slope support frame 1 is subjected to lateral force, it provides a support force with higher torsional rigidity, preventing distortion of the two slope support frames 1 and avoiding any impact on subsequent folding. At the same time, the structural design of the right-angle portion 121 provides excellent support force even when the hinge of the adjacent second hinge body 12 rotates, making deformation and detachment during rotation less likely.

[0036] Plate mounting grooves 114 are formed in the upper wall of each profile body 111, and the side edges of the slope plate body 2 are fitted and fixed into the plate mounting grooves 114. The length of the slope plate body 2 is greater than the length of the slope support frame 1. For implementation, both the slope support frame 1 and the slope plate body 2 are made of high-strength aluminum alloy, achieving both high strength and light weight. The plate mounting grooves 114 are groove structures integrally molded with the rectangular profile, and the slope plate body 2 is fixedly connected inside the plate mounting grooves 114 by rivets. This improves the unity between the slope plate body 2 and the slope support frame 1, and does not affect subsequent folding or reversal. In addition, the plate mounting grooves 114 support the slope plate body 2 with excellent support force and prevent warping deformation of the slope plate.

[0037] Furthermore, the ramp plate body 2 includes a flat plate 21, a first arc-shaped plate 22, and a second arc-shaped plate 23. The first arc-shaped plate 22 and the second arc-shaped plate 23 are provided on both sides of the flat plate 21, and the length of the first arc-shaped plate 22 is shorter than the length of the second arc-shaped plate 23. In practice, the arc shapes of the first arc-shaped plate 22 and the second arc-shaped plate 23 function as guide surfaces when a wheelchair enters or exits the surface of the ramp plate body 2, thus avoiding excessive vibration and shaking when a wheelchair passes over it. The reason the first arc-shaped plate 22 is shorter is that when installed on a step or ramp, the inclination angle is greater on the higher side and smaller on the lower side. This allows the bottom of the first arc-shaped plate 22 to be in close contact with the end on the higher side, and the bottom of the second arc-shaped plate 23 to be in close contact with the starting point on the lower side. This layout reduces the risk at the bottom of the first arc-shaped plate 22, allowing for a tighter fit, and when combined with the second arc-shaped plate 23 on the starting point side, it effectively prevents excessive shaking of the entire slope support frame 1.

[0038] Each slope support frame 1 is provided with a guard plate body 4 on its side wall. Multiple support bosses 14 are provided on the outer wall of the profile body 111 of the slope support frame 1 that is farther from the hinge assembly 3. A second hinge hole 141 is formed inside each support boss 14, and multiple guard hinge bosses 41 are provided on the guard plate body 4. Each guard hinge boss 41 has a third hinge hole 411 formed coaxial with the second hinge hole 141. Each guard hinge boss 41 is fitted between adjacent support bosses 14, and a second hinge pin 42 is provided passing through the second hinge hole 141 and the third hinge hole 411. A torsion coil spring 43 is further provided on the second hinge pin 42, and the arms of the torsion coil spring 43 are in close contact with the guard plate body 4 and the support boss 14, respectively.

[0039] During implementation, when the wheelchair ramp is deployed and then stored, transported, and kept in storage, the guard plate body 4 must be in a stored state. Specifically, a hook-and-loop fastener band is attached between the support member 11 and the guard plate body 4, and the tensile force generated by connecting the hook-and-loop fastener band allows the guard plate body 4 to be inverted toward the surface of the ramp plate body 2. During the inversion process, the gap between the guard plate body 4 and the support boss 14 gradually decreases, the tensile force of the hook-and-loop fastener band overcomes the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 43, and after the inversion is complete, the torsion coil spring 43 is in a compressed state.

[0040] When the wheelchair ramp is deployed and in use, the guard plate body 4 must be in a vertical position. Specifically, when the hook-and-loop fastener band between the support member 11 and the guard plate body 4 is released, the guard plate body 4 is automatically deployed by the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 43. Regardless of whether the guard plate body 4 is folded or reversed, the support boss 14 and the guard hinge boss 41 are hinged together and rotate, and the second hinge hole 141 and the third hinge hole 411 rotate coaxially, both rotating around the axis of the second hinge pin 42. At this time, the second hinge pin 42 plays a role in restricting and guiding the hinge rotation.

[0041] Each set of hinge assemblies 3 includes a first hinge body 31, a stop bolt 32, and a first nut 33. An inclined relief groove 113 is formed at the connection point between two adjacent molded body 111. Each first hinge body 31 includes a plate-shaped support portion 311 and an annular hinge portion 312 that extends integrally from the plate-shaped support portion 311. Each plate-shaped support portion 311 is inserted into the rectangular cavity 112 and makes tight surface contact with the inner wall of the rectangular cavity 112, while each annular hinge portion 312 is positioned between the inclined relief grooves 113. Multiple annular hinge portions 312 are arranged coaxially, and a stop bolt 32 passes through the interior of the multiple annular hinge portions 312, hinge-connecting them. A first nut 33 is provided at the end of the stop bolt 32, and two adjacent molded body 111 are rotatable around the stop bolt 32.

[0042] At least one torsional deformation prevention support block 34 is filled between the plate-shaped support portion 311 of each first hinge body 31 and the inner wall of the rectangular cavity 112 of the molded material body 111. The outer wall of each torsional deformation prevention support block 34 is in close surface contact with the inner wall of the rectangular cavity 112. A first inclined support surface 341 is formed on one end of each torsional deformation prevention support block 34 near the annular hinge portion 312, and a second inclined support surface 313 is formed on the annular hinge portion 312 of each first hinge body 31. When the end faces of adjacent molded material bodies 111 are in close contact, the second inclined support surface 313 abuts against the first inclined support surface 341.

[0043] Each profile body 111 has multiple first restricting holes that penetrate the rectangular cavity 112. Each plate-shaped support portion 311 and torsional deformation prevention support block 34 has multiple second restricting holes 342 that are coaxial with the first restricting holes. Second bolts 35 are provided inside the first restricting holes and the second restricting holes 342, and second nuts 36 are provided at the ends of the second bolts 35.

[0044] Using Figure 3 as the directional reference, if only one first hinge body 31 is placed in the left molded body 111 of adjacent molded body 111, then two torsional deformation prevention support blocks 34 need to be installed inside the left molded body 111. If two first hinge bodies 31 are placed inside the right molded body 111, then one torsional deformation prevention support block 34 needs to be installed inside the right molded body 111. The two first hinge bodies 31 sandwich one first hinge body 31 in between, and the annular hinge portions 312 of the three first hinge bodies 31 are always maintained in a coaxial state.

[0045] During the process in which the adjacent molded material body 111 rotates on a hinge around the stop bolt 32, the inclined relief groove 113 effectively avoids interference between the end of the molded material body 111 and the annular hinge portion 312 of the first hinge body 31. The molded material body 111 is fastened by the second bolt 35 acting on the first regulating hole and the second regulating hole 342, causing the plate-shaped support portion 311 and the torsional deformation prevention support block 34 to displace in accordance with the angle of the molded material body 111.

[0046] With this configuration, both the plate-shaped support portion 311 and the torsional deformation prevention support block 34 are inserted into the rectangular cavity 112, achieving surface contact between the plate-shaped support portion 311, the torsional deformation prevention support block 34 and the inside of the rectangular cavity 112. As a result, even if the rotation angle of the annular hinge portion 312 of the first hinge body 31 changes during the process in which adjacent mold body 111 hinges around the stop bolt 32, the torsional deformation prevention support block 34 and the plate-shaped support portion 311 remain constantly fitted inside the rectangular cavity 112 of the mold body 111.

[0047] Throughout this process, the torsional deformation prevention support block 34 and the plate-shaped support portion 311 fill the interior of the rectangular cavity 112, maintaining constant surface contact with the inner wall of the rectangular cavity 112. This surface contact provides a support force that allows adjacent profile body 111 to obtain a large lateral interlocking force after deployment, preventing lateral swaying and instability of the entire slope support frame 1 during use and significantly improving torsional rigidity.

[0048] Since the torsional deformation prevention support block 34 and the plate-shaped support portion 311 each have a first inclined support surface 341 and a second inclined support surface 313, when adjacent mold body 111 rotate around the stop bolt 32 and unfold, the second inclined support surface 313 precisely contacts the first inclined support surface 341 when the end faces of adjacent mold body 111 come into complete contact with each other. As a result, the first hinge body 31 and the torsional deformation prevention support block 34 also engage in surface contact, and in the unfolded state of the entire support mold 11, the hinge assembly 3 does not hinder the unfolding, but rather further improves the stability and torsional rigidity of the support mold 11 after unfolding.

[0049] A first washer 37 is provided between the head of the stop bolt 32 and the side wall of the corresponding annular hinge portion 312. Multiple second washers 38 are provided between the stop bolt 32 and the side wall of the corresponding annular hinge portion 312, and disc spring washers 39 are further provided between the multiple second washers 38. The protrusions of adjacent disc spring washers 39 are in contact with each other. The shaft portion of the stop bolt 32 passes through the interiors of the first washer 37, the second washer 38, and the disc spring washers 39.

[0050] During implementation, by providing the first washer 37 and the second washer 38, after the stop bolt penetrates the inside of the annular hinge portion 312 of each first hinge body 31, the fastening force between the stop bolt 32 and the first nut 33 first acts on the first washer 37 and the second washer 38, increasing the force-bearing area. This prevents deformation of the annular hinge portion 312 of the first hinge body 31 due to the fastening force, and prevents any impact on normal folding.

[0051] The fastening of the stop bolt 32 and the first nut 33 maintains the annular hinge portions 312 of the multiple first hinge bodies 31 in a hinged state at all times. On the other hand, rotating the first nut 33 changes the position of the end of the stop bolt 32, which changes the distance between the first nut 33 and the side wall of the first hinge body 31, and thus changes the axial fastening force acting on the adjacent disc spring washer 39. At this time, the frictional force between the annular hinge portions 312 of the multiple first hinge bodies 31 also changes simultaneously, which changes the ease of rotation of the first hinge body 31 and allows adjustment of the reversal damping force of the first hinge body 31.

[0052] Second embodiment (hinged assembly exterior type, specification emphasizing ease of assembly) As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the hinge assembly 3 adopts an external structure and is fixed to the outer wall of the rectangular mold body 111. There is no need to process or assemble the inside of the mold, making installation and maintenance easier and suitable for rapid production during mass production.

[0053] Specifically, each set of hinge assemblies 3 includes two symmetrically arranged L-shaped hinge bases 301, hinge pins 302, and lock nuts 303. Each L-shaped hinge base 301 includes a vertical mounting plate that is fixed in close contact with the outer wall of the molded body 111, and hinge lugs that extend integrally from the end of the vertical mounting plate. The vertical mounting plate is in close surface contact with the outer wall of the molded body 111. The hinge lugs provided on two adjacent molded body 111 are arranged coaxially and alternately, the hinge pins 302 pass through the axial holes of all the hinge lugs, and the ends of the hinge pins 302 are fastened and fixed by the lock nuts 303.

[0054] Multiple mounting holes are formed in the vertical mounting plate of the L-shaped hinge base, and fixing holes coaxial with the mounting holes are formed in the outer wall of the profile body 111. Fastening bolts pass through the mounting holes and fixing holes, and fastening nuts are provided at the ends of the fastening bolts. When the end faces of adjacent profile bodies 111 are in close contact, the end faces of the vertical mounting plates of the two symmetrically arranged L-shaped hinge bases come into contact with each other, forming a support structure for improving lateral torsional rigidity.

[0055] In this embodiment, the L-shaped hinge base is fixed to the outer wall of the rectangular profile by surface contact over a wide area, so that stress is uniformly distributed, avoiding the problems of stress concentration and deformation caused by point fixing in conventional single-plate profiles. At the same time, adjacent hinge bases come into contact with each other after deployment, forming additional support for improving lateral torsional rigidity, further improving the structural stability of the slope after deployment. The other structures, operating principles, and advantageous effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0056] Principle of operation and method of use of this invention In the first stage of folding, force is applied to the slope support frame 1 to fold it longitudinally. Each rectangular profile body 111 of each support profile 11 rotates relative to the hinge axis of the hinge assembly 3. In the case of an internal type, the annular hinge portion 312 of the first hinge body 31 rotates within the inclined relief groove 113, and the plate-shaped support portion 311 and the torsional deformation prevention support block 34 are fixed to the profile body 111 by the second bolt 35, maintaining a state where they are always fitted within the rectangular cavity 112. In the case of an external type, adjacent profile bodies 111 rotate around the hinge pin 302 via the L-shaped hinge base. After folding, all profile bodies 111 are stacked, and the horizontal installation area of ​​the slope is significantly reduced.

[0057] In the second stage of folding, two parallel-arranged slope support frames 1 are hinge-connected to each other via a second hinge body 12 and a first hinge pin 13 provided on their side walls. After folding in the front-to-back direction is complete, one of the slope support frames 1 can be inverted around the axis of the first hinge pin 13 (the axis of the first hinge hole) and stacked on top of the other, achieving vertical stacking in the left-to-right direction, further reducing the horizontal installation area, and ultimately forming a compact storage configuration.

[0058] When the slope support frame 1 is fully extended, the end faces of adjacent molded material bodies 111 come into close contact with each other. In the case of an interior type, the second inclined support surface 313 of the first hinge body 31 comes into contact with the first inclined support surface 341 of the torsional deformation prevention support block 34, forming a stable surface contact that improves lateral force resistance and torsional rigidity. In the case of an exterior type, the end faces of the symmetrically arranged L-shaped hinge bases come into contact with each other, forming a support structure for improving lateral torsional rigidity and preventing deformation of the molded material.

[0059] The hinge assembly 3 functions not only as a connecting component but also as a stability adjustment mechanism. In the case of the internal type, tightening or loosening the first nut 33 at the end of the stop bolt 32 changes the pressing force of the first washer 37, the second washer 38, and the disc spring washer 39, thereby adjusting the rotational friction force (damping force) of the hinge assembly 3 and achieving stable control of the folding and unfolding operation.

[0060] The guard plate body 4, located on the side of the ramp support frame 1, is hinged to the support boss 14 and the guard hinge boss 41 via a second hinge pin 42, and is provided with a return elastic force by a torsion coil spring 43. When the hook-and-loop fastener band is released, the guard plate body 4 automatically springs up to a vertical position, forming a continuous guardrail to prevent the wheelchair from sliding sideways. When stored, it can be flattened and secured with a band, allowing it to be stored without any protrusions.

[0061] In scenes where the ground is uneven, the first arc-shaped plate 22 is hinged to the circular boss 212 at the end of the flat plate 21 via the hinge fitting groove 221. When installing the slope, if the lower surface of the slope support frame 1 does not make complete contact with the support surface, the angle of the first arc-shaped plate 22 can be manually fine-tuned to allow the entire slope support structure to adapt slightly to changes in terrain and make complete contact. After adjustment, locking with the third bolt 24 provides optimal support stability even under complex ground conditions.

[0062] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications, supplements, or similar substitutions to the specific embodiments described without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope defined in the appended utility model claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 1. Slope support frame 11 Supporting profile 111 Shape material body 112-sided rectangular lumen 113 Sloping relief groove 114 Plate mounting groove 12. Second hinge body; 121 Right-angle section; 122. Cylindrical section; 13. First hinge pin; 14. Supporting the boss; 141 Second hinge hole; 2. Slope plate body; 21. Flat plate; 211 Extension plate; 212 circular bosses; 2121 Third regulating hole; 22. First arc-shaped plate; 221 Hinge fitting groove; 23. Second arc-shaped plate; 24. Third bolt; 25. Third washer; 3. Hinge Assembly; 31. First hinge body; 311 Plate-shaped support part 312 Annular hinge section 313 Second inclined support surface 32 Stop bolts 33. First nut 34 Torsional deformation prevention support block 341 1st inclined support surface 342 Second regulating hole 35 Second bolt 36. Second nut 37. First Washer 38. Second Washer 39 Disc spring washer 301 L-shaped hinge base 302 Hinge pin 303 Lock Nut 4 Guard plate body 40 Guard hinge boss 411 Third hinge hole 41. Second hinge pin 43 Torsion coil spring

Claims

1. A wheelchair ramp comprising a ramp support frame, wherein a ramp plate body is provided on the ramp support frame, each ramp support frame includes a plurality of support members arranged in parallel, each support member includes at least two independent member bodies, each member body is a rectangular member with an integral closed cross-section structure and has a rectangular cavity inside, a hinge assembly is provided between two adjacent member bodies, the support portion of the hinge assembly can be selected to be connected to the inside of the rectangular cavity or fixed to the outer wall of the member body, and the hinge portion of the hinge assembly is positioned in the gap between adjacent member bodies. A wheelchair ramp characterized by the following features.

2. Each set of the hinge assemblies includes a first hinge body, a stop bolt, and a first nut, and an inclined relief groove is formed at the connection point between two adjacent molded body parts. When the support portion of the hinge assembly is connected to the interior of the rectangular cavity, each of the first hinge bodies includes a plate-shaped support portion and an annular hinge portion integrally extending from the plate-shaped support portion. Each plate-shaped support portion is inserted into the interior of the rectangular cavity and makes surface contact with the inner wall of the rectangular cavity, and each annular hinge portion is positioned between the inclined relief grooves. Multiple annular hinge portions are arranged coaxially, and the stop bolt passes through the interior of the multiple annular hinge portions to form a hinge connection. The end of the stop bolt is provided with the first nut, and two adjacent molded body parts are rotatable around the stop bolt. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 1.

3. At least one torsional deformation prevention support block is filled between the plate-shaped support portion of each first hinge body and the inner wall of the rectangular cavity of the molded material body. The outer wall of each torsional deformation prevention support block is in close contact with the inner wall of the rectangular cavity. A first inclined support surface is formed at one end of each torsional deformation prevention support block near the annular hinge portion, and a second inclined support surface is formed on the annular hinge portion of each first hinge body. When the end faces of adjacent molded material bodies are in close contact, the second inclined support surface abuts against the first inclined support surface, forming a restrictive structure for improving torsional rigidity by receiving load through surface contact. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 2.

4. Multiple first restricting holes are formed in the side walls of each of the molded material bodies, penetrating the rectangular cavity. Multiple second restricting holes are formed in each of the plate-shaped support parts and the torsional deformation prevention support blocks, coaxial with the first restricting holes. Second bolts are provided penetrating the interiors of the first and second restricting holes, and second nuts are provided at the ends of the second bolts. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 3.

5. A first washer is provided between the head of the stop bolt and the corresponding side wall of the annular hinge portion, a plurality of second washers are provided between the stop bolt and the corresponding side wall of the annular hinge portion, disc spring washers are further provided between the plurality of second washers, the protrusions of adjacent disc spring washers are in contact with each other, and the shaft portion of the stop bolt passes through the interior of the first washer, the second washer and the disc spring washer. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 2.

6. When the support portion of the hinge assembly is fixed to the outer wall of the molded body, each set of the hinge assembly includes two symmetrically arranged L-shaped hinge bases, a hinge pin, and a lock nut, each L-shaped hinge base includes a vertical mounting plate fixed in close contact with the outer wall of the molded body, and a hinge lug extending integrally from the end of the vertical mounting plate, the vertical mounting plate making surface contact with the outer wall of the molded body, the hinge lugs provided on two adjacent molded bodies being arranged coaxially and alternately, the hinge pin passing through the axial holes of all the hinge lugs, and the ends of the hinge pins being fastened and fixed by the lock nuts. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 1.

7. Multiple mounting holes are formed in the vertical mounting plate of the L-shaped hinge base, and fixing holes coaxial with the mounting holes are formed in the outer wall of the mold body. Fastening bolts pass through the mounting holes and fixing holes, and fastening nuts are provided at the ends of the fastening bolts. When the end faces of adjacent mold bodies are in close contact, the end faces of the two symmetrically arranged vertical mounting plates of the L-shaped hinge bases come into contact with each other, forming a support structure for improving lateral torsional rigidity. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 6.

8. Multiple slope support frames are provided, and these multiple slope support frames are arranged in parallel. Multiple second hinge bodies are provided between the side walls of adjacent slope support frames. The contact surface of each second hinge body is in surface contact with the outer wall of the profile body and fixed. A first hinge hole is formed in each second hinge body, and the axis of the first hinge hole is parallel to the side wall of the slope support frame. A first hinge pin passes through the inside of the first hinge hole of two adjacent second hinge bodies, and they are hinged together. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 1.

9. The second hinge body includes a right-angle portion and a cylindrical portion integrally extending from the right-angle portion, the first hinge hole is formed inside the cylindrical portion, and the shape of the right-angle portion is such that it is in close contact with the outer wall of the rectangular profile of the slope support frame. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 8.

10. Each of the slope support frames is provided with a guard plate body on its side wall, and a plurality of support bosses are provided on the outer wall of the profile body of the slope support frame on the side furthest from the hinge assembly, with a second hinge hole formed inside each support boss, and a plurality of guard hinge bosses are provided on the guard plate body, with a third hinge hole formed coaxial with the second hinge hole in each guard hinge boss, and each guard hinge boss is fitted between adjacent support bosses, and a second hinge pin is provided passing through the second hinge hole and the third hinge hole, and a torsion coil spring is further provided on the second hinge pin, with the arms of the torsion coil spring in close contact with the guard plate body and the support boss, respectively. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 2.

11. Plate mounting grooves are formed in the upper wall of each of the aforementioned profile bodies, and the side edges of the slope plate body are fitted and fixed into the plate mounting grooves. The length of the slope plate body is greater than the length of the slope support frame, and the slope plate body includes a flat plate, a first arc-shaped plate, and a second arc-shaped plate, with the first and second arc-shaped plates provided on both sides of the flat plate, and the length of the first arc-shaped plate being smaller than the length of the second arc-shaped plate. The wheelchair ramp according to feature 1.

12. An extension plate is provided on the flat plate near the first arc-shaped plate, a circular boss is provided at the end of the extension plate, a hinge fitting groove is formed in the first arc-shaped plate which is fitted into the circular boss, the rotation angle of the hinge fitting groove relative to the circular boss is restricted by the extension plate, a third regulating hole is further formed in the circular boss, a third bolt is provided inside the third regulating hole, and a third washer is provided between the head of the third bolt and the side wall of the circular boss The wheelchair ramp according to feature 11.

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