Rubber Wheelchair Access Ramp

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to a wheelchair access ramp for wheelchair and more generally pedestrian traffic. The wheelchair access ramp generally includes a base layer adapted for placement of the access ramp, an adhesive layer applied to the base layer, the adhesive layer 16 includes a polyol and activating agent mixture, the adhesive layer being effective in adhering to base layer 12, a grit material residing at least partly within an exposed surface of the adhesive layer to provide a slip-resistant surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure is broadly directed to a wheelchair access ramp as well as a method of forming a wheelchair access ramp. In both aspects the access ramp includes an exposed slip-resistant surface suitable for wheelchair and pedestrian traffic.SUMMARY

[0002] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a wheelchair access ramp comprising:

[0003] a base layer adapted for placement of the access ramp;

[0004] an adhesive layer applied to the base layer, said adhesive layer includes a polyol and activating agent mixture, said adhesive layer being effective in promoting adherence to the base layer;

[0005] a grit material residing at least partly within an exposed surface of the adhesive layer to provide a slip-resistant surface.

[0006] Preferably the base layer is a composite mixture including rubber blended with polyurethane. More preferably the rubber includes a combination of synthetic and natural rubbers such as that sourced from recycled tyres. Even more preferably the rubber is in the form of crumbs or granules of a predetermined particle size distribution.

[0007] Preferably the grit material is coupled to the base layer via the intermediate adhesive layer. More preferably the grit material is granular and includes natural or synthetic oxides, carbides, and silicates including but not limited to silicon dioxide in the form of quartz such as sand, aluminium oxides, silicon carbides, and silicates in the form of garnets. The silicates in the form of garnets include 20 / 40 mesh size Sandblasting granules.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method of forming a wheelchair access ramp, said method comprising the steps of:

[0009] applying an adhesive layer to a base layer, said adhesive layer includes a polyol and activating agent mixture, said adhesive layer being effective in adhering to the base layer;

[0010] depositing a grit material wherein it resides at least partly within an exposed surface of the adhesive layer to provide a slip-resistant surface.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present disclosure aspects of a wheelchair access ramp together with a method of forming a wheelchair access ramp will now be described, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of part of a wheelchair access ramp according to the disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the part of the wheelchair access ramp of FIG. 1; and

[0014] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail of a section of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, there is a wheelchair access ramp 10 shown in part and being suitable for wheelchair and more generally pedestrian traffic. Although the access ramp 10 is illustrated in part only, it will be appreciated that the access ramp 10 is otherwise shaped and sized in a conventional manner typically complying with regulatory Standards directed to wheelchair ramps and wedges designed to accommodate wheelchairs, walking frames, motorised scooters, and pedestrian traffic.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first aspect of the disclosure is directed to a wheelchair access ramp 10 generally comprising:

[0017] 1. a base layer 12 adapted for placement of the access ramp 10;

[0018] 2. an adhesive layer 16 applied to the base layer 12, the adhesive layer 16 includes a polyol and activating agent mixture, the adhesive layer 14 being effective in adhering to base layer 12;

[0019] 3. a grit material such as 18 residing at least partly within an exposed surface of the adhesive layer 16 to provide a slip-resistant surface.

[0020] In this aspect of the disclosure the adhesive layer 16 is a coating system applied to the base layer 12. The coating system 16 functions to promote adherence or coupling of the grit material 18 to the base layer 12. Conventionally, a sealing layer is applied across an exposed aggregate material to provide a sealed slip resistance surface. In this aspect of the disclosure, it should be noted that a sealing layer is not required since the adhesive layer 16 also acts a sealing layer in anchoring the grit material 18. The adhesive layer 16 includes a polyol and activating agent mixture. In this aspect of the disclosure, the polyol is not limited to specific type of polyol. The polyol can be polyether, polyester, polycarbonate and acrylic polyols. Preferably, the activating agent is isocyanate.

[0021] The base layer 12 of this aspect of the disclosure is a composite mixture including rubber blended with polyurethane. The rubber is typically in the form of rubber crumbs or granules of a predetermined particle size distribution. The rubber crumbs are derived from recycled tyres and as such include a combination of synthetic rubbers and natural rubbers. The rubber granules may be obtained from buffing material from tyre buffing.

[0022] The base layer 12 of this aspect of the disclosure makes the largest contribution to the bulk of the access ramp 10. The base layer 12 is of a relatively dense construction having a typically density of around 830 kg / m3. This means the access ramps such as 10 are relatively heavy and as such generally do not require mechanical anchorage for secure placement in temporary or permanent installations. The relatively heavyweight access ramps such as 10 can nonetheless be moved with relative ease, for example to place in storage when not in use.

[0023] In this aspect of the disclosure the grit material 18 is granular and includes natural or synthetic oxides, carbides, and silicates. The grit material such as 18 may be sourced or derived from sand wherein it is in the form of silicone dioxide or naturally occurring quartz. The grit material 18 also extends to synthetic oxides and carbides such as those adopted in other applications requiring slip-resistant properties where for example aluminium oxides and silicon carbides are used. The silicates in the form of garnets include 20 / 40 mesh size Sandblasting granules.

[0024] In a further aspect of the disclosure, the adhesive layer 16 is produced by mixing polyol and isocyanate together at a ratio of 4× parts polyol to 1× part isocyanate. Oxide can be added to suit and colour needed. In this example, Black Oxide is preferred as the above is a milky white colour when fully blended. The blend is then evenly spread onto the base layer 12 using a notch trowel. Once spread, the garnet is applied evenly on top of the blend, then manually mixed into the surface with manual circular motion using covered hands. It should be noted that there is a limited time to this process as the mixture goes off within 15-20 minutes depending on ambient temperature. The curing time is about 12 hours.

[0025] In a second aspect of the disclosure there is a method of forming a wheelchair access ramp such as 10. In the context of the access ramp 10 of the preceding aspect of the disclosure this method may generally comprise the steps of:

[0026] 1. applying an adhesive layer 16 to a base layer 12, said adhesive layer includes a polyol and activating agent mixture, said adhesive layer 16 being effective in promoting adherence to the base layer 12;

[0027] 2. depositing a grit material such as 18 wherein it resides at least partly within an exposed surface of the adhesive layer 16 to provide a slip-resistant surface.

[0028] Now that aspects of the disclosure have been described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the wheelchair access ramp has at least the following advantages:

[0029] 1. the access ramp effectively bonds its various layers providing a robust structure less likely to delaminate or breakdown over time;

[0030] 2. the access ramps comply with the slip resistant or non-slip properties prescribed by the relevant regulatory Standards;

[0031] 3. the access ramp at least in its preferred form is constructed largely from recycled products;

[0032] 4. the access ramps lend themselves to both temporary and permanent installations whilst remaining in place with reduced risk of movement;

[0033] 5. the access ramps can be custom manufactured in relatively large volumes adopting production techniques in the preferred method of manufacture.

[0034] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosure as described is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the materials from which the various layers are constructed may depart from the described aspect of the disclosure provided they remain broadly within the defined aspects of the technology. The grit material may include silicates in the form of garnets and the grit material may be a mixture of any combination of the grit materials disclosed. The layers may be constructed from different manufacturing methods which depart from aspects of the disclosure but nonetheless remain within the ambit of the disclosure. For example, the grit material may be applied simultaneously to the adhesive layer rather than separate application of these products. It will be appreciated that the general profile and sectional shape of the access ramp may vary depending on its application as well as the relative thickness of each layer where for example the base layer may be tapered. The disclosure is not limited to access ramps but may also extend to surface matting.

[0035] All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present disclosure the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A wheelchair access ramp comprising:a base layer adapted for placement of the access ramp;an adhesive layer applied to the base layer, said adhesive layer includes a polyol and activating agent mixture, said adhesive layer being effective in promoting adherence to the base layer;a grit material residing at least partly within an exposed surface of the adhesive layer to provide a slip-resistant surface.

2. A wheelchair access ramp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base layer is a composite mixture including rubber blended with polyurethane.

3. A wheelchair access ramp as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rubber includes a combination of synthetic and natural rubbers such as that sourced from recycled tyres.

4. A wheelchair access ramp as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rubber is in the form of crumbs or granules of a predetermined particle size distribution.

5. A wheelchair access ramp as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rubber is in the form of crumbs or granules of a predetermined particle size distribution.

6. A wheelchair access ramp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grit material is coupled to the base layer via the intermediate adhesive layer.

7. A wheelchair access ramp as claimed in claim 5 wherein the grit material is granular and includes natural or synthetic oxides, carbides, and silicates including but not limited to silicon dioxide in the form of quartz, aluminium oxides, silicon carbides, and silicates in the form of garnets.

8. A wheelchair access ramp as claimed in claim 6 wherein the silicates in the form of garnets include 20 / 40 mesh size Sandblasting granules.

9. A wheelchair access ramp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polyol is selected from any one of polyether, polyester, polycarbonate and acrylic polyols.

10. A wheelchair access ramp as claimed in claim 1 claims wherein the activating agent is isocyanate.

11. A method of forming a wheelchair access ramp, said method comprising the steps of:applying an adhesive layer to a base layer, said adhesive layer includes a polyol and activating agent mixture, said adhesive layer being effective in adhering to the base layer;depositing a grit material wherein it resides at least partly within an exposed surface of the adhesive layer to provide a slip-resistant surface.

Images