Extractable ladder assembly with built-in containment housing for motor vehicle, related motor vehicle and related installation method

Abstract

An extractable ladder assembly (4) comprising an extractable ladder (8) that is extractable from a stowed configuration to an extracted configuration, the folding ladder (8) comprising at least two uprights (12) connected to each other by a plurality of steps (16), and a hollow containment housing (20) delimiting a containment compartment (24) suitable for containing the extractable ladder (8) in said stowed configuration, the containment housing (20) extending along a main longitudinal direction (X-X) between an access end (28) and a bottom end (32) and comprising at least one pair of longitudinal guides (36) which can allow the extraction and insertion of the extractable ladder (8) with respect to the containment compartment (24) through said access end (28) along an extraction direction parallel to said main longitudinal direction (X-X). The containment housing (20) comprises a central plate (40) and two side plates (44), arranged on opposite sides of a centerline plane (M-M) of the containment housing (20), said side plates (44) supporting the longitudinal guides (36). The central plate (40) has a convex geometry on the side opposite from the containment compartment (24) with respect to a sectional plane perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction (X-X).

Description

"EXTRACTABLE LADDER ASSEMBLY WITH BUILT-IN CONTAINMENTHOUSING FOR MOTOR VEHICLE , RELATED MOTOR VEHICLE AND RELATED INSTALLATION METHOD" DESCRIPTIONFIELD OF APPLICATION

[0001] The present invention relates to an extractable ladder assembly with an incorporated containment housing for motor vehicles , typically for freight vehicles , such as trucks , heavy goods vehicles , road trains , trailers and the like , the related motor vehicle comprising said extractable ladder assembly, and the related installation method .PRIOR ART

[0002] As is well known, motor vehicles are provided with a ladder to loading compartments or boxes to facilitate an operator boarding the loading surface .

[0003] Typically, these ladders are provided with one or more steps and are welded to the chassis of the motor vehicle or its loading surface .

[0004] The fixed ladders of the prior art are subj ected to considerable wear and deterioration, also because they are fixed and therefore exposed to atmospheric agents the entire time the motor vehicle is used .

[0005] Therefore , with prolonged use it often happens that one or more steps may be damaged or become detached . Insuch a case , it is necessary to proceed with the destructive removal of the ladder, usually by unsoldering or cutting the ladder walls connected / welded to the chassis of the motor vehicle .

[0006] In the field, it has been therefore decided to provide extractable ladders that may be removed when not required, so as to limit their wear and prolong their useful li fe .

[0007] However, it is necessary to provide ladders that are capable of being installed and removed extremely quickly, because the driver of the motor vehicle must be able to have access to the loading compartment repeatedly during vehicle use and must not waste time installing and storing the ladder .

[0008] At the same time , the extractable ladder solutions must also ensure the necessary safety standards , notwithstanding the speed and simplicity of installation and removal .

[0009] The known solutions involve the use of telescopic and non-telescopic ladders which, when not in use , may be contained in parallelepiped structures housed under the loading compartment of the vehicle ; in this way, the known ladders do not have to be removed / installed and stored in special spaces from time to time to avoid unnecessary bulk .

[0010] The containment housings are typically hollow parallelepiped structures which delimit a hollow containment compartment that houses within it the ladder and the relative longitudinal guides that are parallel to an extraction / insertion direction, thereby allowing them to be extracted and / or inserted with respect to the containment compartment . These housings are made from thin sheets that are folded as needed and / or welded or riveted to the platform of the motor vehicle .

[0011] There are applications where the platform of the motor vehicle must be suitably insulated, typically in the case of refrigerated vehicles or trailers , for transporting foodstuf fs and the like .

[0012] Insulation is carried out after having inserted the containment housing into the particular compartment created on the platform by inj ecting a substance , typically a hardening foam for thermal insulation which, once inj ected into the compartment , expands when it contacts the air . Following the expansion, this foam exerts a non-negligible pressure on the containment housing, in particular on the central area of the housing, which is then subj ected to bending, especially in its central cantilevered area .

[0013] Due to such permanent bending, the sheets of the housing, in particular the upper sheet of the housing,may interfere with or rub against the ladder contained therein, making it di f ficult to extract and subsequently insert the ladder with respect to the containment compartment .

[0014] To overcome this drawback, it is known to use sheets which are thickened, and therefore mechanically stronger . However, these solutions are inconvenient because the space available on the platform is limited and the thickening of the sheets tends to reduce said space further . Excessive reduction of available space is a problem because it limits the insulating foam from reaching the gaps when it is inj ected . Furthermore , the increase in material results in an increase in the overall costs and weight of the ladder .DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0015] There is therefore a need to resolve the drawbacks and limitations mentioned with re ference to the prior art .

[0016] Such a need is met by an extractable ladder assembly according to claim 1 and by a method of installing an extractable ladder assembly according to claim 18 . DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred, non-limitingembodiments thereof, wherein:

[0018] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle comprising an extractable ladder assembly in the extracted configuration, according to one possible embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view, in the retracted configuration, of the motor vehicle in Fig. 1;

[0020] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the enlarged detail III indicated in Fig 2;

[0021] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an extractable ladder assembly, in the open or extracted configuration, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Fig. 5 is a perspective view, in the stowed configuration, of the ladder assembly of Fig. 4;

[0023] Fig. 6 is a perspective view, in partial section, of the ladder assembly of Fig. 5;

[0024] Fig. 7-8 are perspective views, from different angles, of the containment housing of a ladder assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Fig. 9 is a plan view from above of the ladder assembly of Fig. 7-8;

[0026] Fig. 10 shows a front view of the containment housing of the ladder assembly of Fig. 7-9;

[0027] Fig. 11-12 show enlarged detailed views of the containment housing of the ladder assembly of Fig. 10;

[0028] Fig . 13 shows a schematic view of the deformation of the containment housing of the ladder assembly according to the present invention during the step of installing it on an insulated compartment of a motor vehicle .

[0029] Elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated with the same numerical references . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] With reference to the aforesaid figures , an extractable ladder assembly is denoted globally with 4 .

[0031] It should be noted that the extractable ladder assembly 4 may be made of any material ; preferably it is made of a metal material . According to one possible embodiment , the extractable ladder as sembly 4 is made of carbon steel , hot-dip galvani zed steel , cold-dip galvani zed steel or magnelis® or other materials . Preferably, the extractable ladder as sembly 4 is made of extruded aluminum .

[0032] The extractable ladder assembly 4 comprises a ladder 8 that is extractable from a stowed configuration to an extracted configuration .

[0033] The extractable ladder 8 comprises at least two uprights 12 connected to each other by a plurality of steps 16 , suitably hinged to the uprights 12 so as to rotate with respect thereto in the transition from theretracted configuration to the extracted configuration and vice versa .

[0034] The extractable ladder 8 further comprises a hollow containment housing 20 which del imits a containment compartment 24 that is able to contain the extractable ladder 8 in said stowed configuration .

[0035] The containment housing 20 extends along a main longitudinal direction X-X between an access end 28 and a bottom end 32 and comprises at least one pair of longitudinal guides 36 making it possible to extract and insert the extractable ladder 8 with respect to the containment compartment 24 through said access end 28 along an extraction direction parallel to said main longitudinal direction X-X .

[0036] The containment housing 20 comprises a central plate 40 and two side plates 44 arranged on opposite sides of a centerline plane M-M of the containment housing 20 . It should be noted that the central plate 40 and the side plates 44 are in the present case made in one piece with each other and are obtained by bending a single metal sheet .

[0037] In particular, said side plates 44 support the longitudinal guides 36 arranged inside the containment compartment 24 .

[0038] Advantageously, the central plate 40 has a convexgeometry on the side opposite from the containment compartment 24 with respect to a sectional plane perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction X-X . In other words, with respect to a sectional plane perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction X-X, the central plate 40 is slightly curved outward, i.e., on the side opposite from the containment compartment 24. Obviously, the central plate 40 is concave when viewed from the inside, i.e., from the side facing the containment compartment 24. Due to this plastic predeformation (see Fig. 13) , the containment housing 20 is more resistant to a vertical, downward-directed compression load coming from the outside.

[0039] Due to this convexity, as better described below, the central plate 40, when subjected to an external compression load, directed toward the containment compartment 24, will tend to be crushed so as to lose said curvature and be disposed on a substantially horizontal plane.

[0040] Preferably, the central plate 40 comprises stiffening means 48 extending along a transverse direction T-T, perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction X-X.

[0041] According to one possible embodiment, said stiffening means 48 are arranged spaced apart in a non-uniform manner along said main longitudinal direction X- X. In other words, the longitudinal pitch P, which represents the longitudinal distance between two consecutive stiffening means 48, is not constant, i.e., it is variable.

[0042] For example, the stiffening means 48 have a decreasing concentration moving from the access end 28 toward the bottom end 32. In other words, the longitudinal pitch P increases moving from the access end 28 toward the bottom end 32. In this way, the containment housing 20 is more rigid to the compression load at the access end 28, which represents the point of greatest criticality for the extraction and retraction of the extractable ladder 8, with respect to the containment compartment 24.

[0043] According to one possible embodiment, said stiffening means 48 comprise folds or ribs 52 obtained by plastic deformation, preferably by roller bending, of the central plate 40, said folds 52 being directed parallel to the transverse direction T-T.

[0044] Preferably, said folds or ribs 52 have a thickness S that is almost constant and substantially equal to the thickness S of the central plate 40.

[0045] In this way, roller bending allows a localized hardening of the central plate 40 to be obtained, withrelative structural stif fening of the central plate 40 with respect to an external compression load, without the need to increase the thickness thereof and therefore without the disadvantage of increasing the weight and the overall cost of said containment hous ing 20 .

[0046] The side plates 44 are substantially perpendicular to the central plate 40 . In this way, the central plate 40 forms , together with the side plates 44 , a structure having an overall 'C' or omega shape . It is also possible to provide for the side plates 44 to be inclined and not perpendicular to the central plate 40 , so as to assume an overall trapezoidal configuration .

[0047] The side plates 44 comprise fastening means 56 for fastening the containment housing 20 to an associable hori zontal surface , such as the platform of the motor vehicle , wherein said fastening means 56 comprise flaps or bases provided with fastening through-holes .

[0048] Preferably, the side plates 44 support said longitudinal guides 36 inside the containment compartment 24 . For example , the extractable ladder 8 is provided with bearings 60 configured to be coupled with said longitudinal guides 36 .

[0049] For example , the containment housing 20 comprises a lower plate 64 , opposite the central plate 40 , which lower plate closes the containment compartment 24 on theside opposite from the central plate 40 .

[0050] Said bottom end 32 may be closed by means of a closing plate .

[0051] According to one possible embodiment , the central plate 40 , at said access end 28 , comprises an elevation 68 extending away from the containment compartment 24 with respect to a vertical direction Y-Y perpendicular to the central plate 40 .

[0052] For example , said elevation 68 is obtained by means of a flap that is separated at least partially from the central plate 40 by a pair of slots 72 .

[0053] As mentioned above , the present invention also relates to a motor vehicle 76 comprising a platform 80 which supports an extractable ladder assembly 4 described above .

[0054] Preferably, said motor vehicle 76 is provided with a platform 80 that defines an insulated cavity 84 , wherein said extractable ladder assembly 4 is housed inside said insulated cavity 84 . As better described below, the insulation of the cavity 84 is obtained by means of an expanding foam that fills the cavity 84 itself .

[0055] The method for installing an extractable ladder assembly according to the present invention will now be described .

[0056] First , an extractable ladder assembly 4 is providedwhich comprises the containment housing 20 and, within the particular containment compartment 24 , an extractable ladder 8 .

[0057] This extractable ladder assembly 4 is then inserted inside said cavity 84 defined by the platform 80 of the motor vehicle 76 , and is fastened relative to said platform 80 by the fastening means 56 .

[0058] The step of insulating the cavity 84 is then carried out by inj ecting a hardening foam for thermal insulation inside said cavity 84 .

[0059] Therefore , it is expected that said hardening foam for thermal insulation will expand so as to exert pressure on said central plate 40 and to at least partially flatten the convex geometry of the central plate 40 on the side opposite from the containment compartment 24 . This deformation step is schematically and qualitatively illustrated in Fig . 13 .

[0060] As may be appreciated from what has been described, the solutions described above make it possible to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art .

[0061] In particular, the extractable ladder according to the present invention may be opened and stowed in a very practical and fast manner by a single operator without ever j amming and with advantages for versatility and safety of use .

[0062] The opening / closing operation may be repeated several times during the use of the motor vehicle , even on the same day, without thereby leading to any slowdown in the work activity of loading / unloading goods .

[0063] Due to the shape of the containment housing, the extractable ladder may be extracted and retracted in the containment compartment without ever j amming .

[0064] In fact , even following the insulation procedure using expandable foam, the upper wall is not deformed as it is suitably strengthened, or it is deformed in a well- controlled manner so as not to interfere or otherwise rub against parts of the extractable ladder contained in the containment compartment .

[0065] The extractable ladder is therefore safe and complies with the necessary safety standards .

[0066] Finally, the structure of the extractable ladder is lightweight and economical to produce .

[0067] In fact , the containment housing is particularly robust without providing for thickening the sheets that constitute it .

[0068] In fact , as seen, the stif fening means consist of locali zed plastic folds that harden the material locally without changing the thickness thereo f .

[0069] A person skilled in the art , for the purpose of satis fying contingent and speci fic needs , may makenumerous modi fications and variations to the solutions described above .

[0070] The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the following claims .List of reference signs.4: extractable ladder assembly8 : extractable ladder12 : uprights16: steps20: containment housing24: containment compartment28: access end32 : bottom end36: longitudinal guides40: central plate44 : side plates48: stiffening means52: folds or ribs obtained by plastic deformation56: fastening means60: bearings64 : lower plate68 : elevation72: slots76: motor vehicle80: platform84 : cavityY-Y : vertical directionX-X: main longitudinal directionM-M: centerline planeT-T: transverse directionP: pitchS: thickness

Claims

CLAIMS1. An extractable ladder assembly (4) comprising: - an extractable ladder (8) that is extractable from a stowed configuration to an extracted configuration, the extractable ladder (8) comprising at least two uprights (12) connected to each other by a plurality of steps (16) , a hollow containment housing (20) , delimiting a containment compartment (24) suitable for containing the extractable ladder (8) in said stowed configuration, the containment housing (20) extending along a main longitudinal direction (X-X) between an access end (28) and a bottom end (32) and comprising at least one pair of longitudinal guides (36) which can allow the extraction and insertion of the extractable ladder (8) with respect to the containment compartment (24) through said end access (28) along an extraction direction parallel to said main longitudinal direction (X-X) , wherein the containment housing (20) comprises a central plate (40) and two side plates (44) arranged on opposite sides of a centerline plane (M-M) of the containment housing (20) , said side plates (44) supporting the longitudinal guides (36) , wherein the central plate (40) has a pre-deformed geometry with convexity on the side opposite from thecontainment compartment (24) with respect to a section plane perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction (X-X) .

2. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to claim1, wherein the central plate (40) comprises stiffening means (48) which extend along a transverse direction (T- T) perpendicular to the main longitudinal direction (X- X) .

3. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to claim2, wherein said stiffening means (48) are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in a non-uniform manner along said main longitudinal direction (X-X) .

4. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to claim3, wherein a longitudinal pitch (P) , which represents the longitudinal distance between two consecutive stiffening means (48) , is variable along said main longitudinal direction (X-X) .

5. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said stiffening means (48) have a decreasing concentration moving from the access end (28) toward the bottom end (32) .

6. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein a longitudinal pitch (P) , which represents the longitudinal distance between two consecutive stiffening means (48) , increases moving fromthe access end (28) toward the bottom end (32) .

7. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said stiffening means (48) comprise folds or ribs (52) obtained by plastic deformation by roller bending of the central plate (40) , said plastic folds or ribs (52) being directed parallel to the transverse direction (T-T) .

8. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to claim 7, wherein said folds or ribs (52) have a thickness (S) that is almost constant and substantially equal to the thickness (S) of the central plate (40) .

9. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the side plates (44) are substantially perpendicular to the central plate (40) .

10. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the side plates (44) comprise fastening means (56) for fastening the containment housing (20) to an associable horizontal surface, wherein said fastening means (56) comprise flaps or bases provided with fastening through-holes .

11. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the side plates(44) support said longitudinal guides (36) inside the containment compartment (24) , and wherein the extractable ladder (8) is provided with bearings (60) configured tocouple with said longitudinal guides (36) .

12. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the containment housing (20) comprises a lower plate (64) , opposite the central plate (40) , which lower plate closes the containment compartment (24) on the side opposite from the central plate (40) .

13. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein said bottom end (32) is closed by means of a closing plate.

14. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the central plate (40) , at said access end (28) , comprises an elevation (68) extending away from the containment compartment (24) with respect to a vertical direction (Y-Y) perpendicular to the central plate (40) .

15. The extractable ladder assembly (4) according to claim 14, wherein said elevation (68) is obtained by means of a flap, separated at least partially from the central plate (40) by means of a pair of slots (72) .

16. A motor vehicle (76) comprising a platform (80) that supports an extractable ladder assembly (4) according to any of claims 1 to 15.

17. The motor vehicle (76) according to claim 16, wherein said platform (80) defines an insulated cavity (84) ,wherein said extractable ladder assembly (4) is housed within said insulated cavity (84) .

18. A method for installing an extractable ladder assembly (4) comprising the following steps: - providing an extractable ladder assembly (4) according to any of claims 1 to 15,- providing a motor vehicle (76) equipped with a platform(80) that defines a cavity (84) ,- inserting the extractable ladder assembly (4) inside said cavity (84) and fastening it with respect to said platform (80) , insulating the cavity (84) by injecting a hardening foam for thermal insulation into said cavity (84) ,- waiting for the expansion of said foam, which exerts pressure on said central plate (40) and at least partially flattens the convex geometry of the central plate (40) on the side opposite from the containment compartment (24) .

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