Temporary ramp element, stack for stacking a plurality of such ramp elements, methods od installing and of manufacturing such ramp elements

Abstract

A temporary ramp element (10) comprises two ramp bodies (20a, 20b). One ramp body (20a) comprises a bridging portion and one ramp body (20b) comprising a bridge cradle. The bridging portion of one ramp body is seated in the bridge cradle of the other ramp body, to connect the two ramp bodies. The ramp bodies (20a, 20b) may have the same shape to mutually connect to each other via their respective bridging portions engaging in their respective bridge cradles. Further disclosed is a stack comprising a ramp element and ramp bodies, a method of installing ramp elements, and a method of manufacturing ramp elements from ramp bodies.

Description

[0001] CPOPS112GB

[0002] 1

[0003] Temporary Ramp

[0004] Field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to temporary ramps, such as bypass ramps, laid over structures, such as cables or pipes, for their protection. More specifically, the invention relates to a modular ramp design enabling larger-footprint ramp installations from smaller-footprint subunits.

[0006] Background

[0007] In some scenarios, infrastructure installations such as cables or pipes may be required to remain in use and / or connected across traffic ways during sitework. Such installations may be covered temporarily to protect them from damage, wherein a temporary cover may remain in place for several weeks or sometimes longer.

[0008] Such installations may extend along a kerb or side of a road, using the existing kerbside ramp to provide protection at one side of the pipes. Where such installations cross driveway ramps, it is known to create temporary asphalt ramps over the opposite side of the pipes. Such a solution requires the pouring and subsequent removal of a temporary asphalt ramp, and / or requires tolerating that it remains in place.

[0009] The present invention seeks to provide an improved ramp design that is easier to install and / or to remove, and that can also be left in place for longer periods of time.

[0010] Summary of the Invention

[0011] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a temporary ramp element as defined in claim 1 , comprising two ramp bodies, each ramp body comprising a ramped main body, at least one ramp body comprising a bridging portion and at least one ramp body comprising a bridge cradle, the bridging portion of one of the two ramp bodies to be seated in the bridge cradle of the other of the two ramp bodies, the two ramp bodies connected to each other by engagement of the bridging portion in the bridge cradle.

[0012] Version 2025-12-05 CPOPS112GB

[0013] 2

[0014] In some embodiments, each of the two ramp bodies comprises a bridging portion and a bridge cradle.

[0015] The ramp bodies may have the same or mutually complementary shape, to mutually connect to each other via their respective bridging portions engaging in their respective bridge cradles.

[0016] In some embodiments, at least one bridging portion comprises an arched profile.

[0017] Specifically, the bridging portion may be located and extend to define the apex of the ramp element.

[0018] In some embodiments, at least one bridging portion comprises a locator arrangement, and wherein at least one bridge cradle comprises a seat arrangement shaped to align with the locator arrangement when the bridging portion is seated in the bridge cradle.

[0019] In some embodiments, at least one bridge cradle is recessed within a ramp contour of its ramp body such that the bridging portion engaged in the at least one bridge cradle sits flush with the ramp contour of the ramp body comprising the cradle portion.

[0020] In other words, at least a region of the bridging portion that is located in its bridge cradle has a height thickness corresponding to the depth of a recess defining the bridge cradle. It will be understood that the height thickness may be homogeneous across the area of the bridging portion. Alternatively, some regions of the bridging portion may have varying height thickness, the recess depth of the bridge cradle may vary correspondingly.

[0021] In some embodiments, at least one bridging portion of at least one ramp body has greater flexibility than the ramp body.

[0022] For instance, the greater flexibility may be provided by a thinner material cross-section, or by a softer material, in the span direction of the bridge. The material cross-section or material is not necessarily extending uniformly across the width of the bridging portion. For instance, an arrangement of spaced-apart ribs may suffice to provide a region of higher stiffness.

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[0024] 3

[0025] In some embodiments, the bridging portion has a flexibility that varies along a bridge span between ramp bodies.

[0026] In some embodiments, the bridging portion has greater flexibility partway between the ramp bodies.

[0027] In some embodiments, the bridging portion has greater flexibility in a centre region between the ramp bodies.

[0028] In some embodiments, at least one bridging portion imparts flexibility to the ramp element in the manner of a living hinge.

[0029] In this manner, the flexibility-providing region may be constituted by an integrally moulded portion, such as a flap. Specifically, a region, such as a central region, of the bridging portion may provide the hinge functionality.

[0030] In some embodiments, the at least one bridge element permits bending one of the two ramp bodies relative to the other of the two ramp bodies.

[0031] In some embodiments, the ramp bodies are spaced apart by the at least one bridging portion to define a passage between them.

[0032] The passage may provide a clearance underneath the bridging portion for a pipe or cable.

[0033] In some embodiments, the ramp bodies are connected to each other via engagement of the bridging portions in the bridge cradles, providing an unconnected region underneath the bridging portions.

[0034] In some embodiments, the two ramp bodies have the same shape.

[0035] For instance, the two ramp bodies may have been made from the same mould.

[0036] Version 2025-12-05 CPOPS112GB

[0037] 4

[0038] In some embodiments, lateral portions of at least one ramp body comprise a connector arrangement comprising connector structures permitting side-by-side connection of two temporary ramp elements.

[0039] As will be understood, the lateral portions of the ramp bodies constitute side wall or side-facing structures of the ramp. The lateral portions, i.e. side walls of the ramp bodies, may be of sloped or generally triangular shape.

[0040] In some embodiments, the connector arrangement for side-by-side connection is located on the ramp bodies, offset from the bridging portion.

[0041] In some embodiments, the connector arrangement comprises a recess and a corresponding protrusion shaped to engage in the recess.

[0042] In some embodiments, the recess extends across the full body height of the ramp body.

[0043] In this manner, adjacent ramp elements may be installed and removed from within an arrangement of connected ramp elements by vertical movement.

[0044] In some embodiments, the protrusion comprises a flat exterior face extending parallel to the ramp body.

[0045] In some embodiments, the connector structures comprise an elongate extension extending in the ramp direction of the ramp body more than in a direction perpendicular to the ramp direction.

[0046] In accordance with second aspect of the invention, there is provided a stack for stacking a plurality of ramp elements according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect, comprising a first ramp element and at least one ramp body, the ramp element and the at least one ramp body placed such that their in-use upward-facing ramp surfaces face each other to provide a generally cuboid stack.

[0047] As may be imagined, the first ramp element may be placed with its in-use groundfacing side facing a surface underneath, such as a pallet or other transport surface, or

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[0049] 5 another ramp element or ramp bodies. Likewise, one or, usually, two ramp bodies may be placed onto the first ramp element, upside down, and with the bridging portions facing away from each other. As will be appreciated, the ramp element may be placed upside down onto outward-facing ramp bodies. Likewise, in some arrangements the ramp bodies may be located on their sides.

[0050] In some embodiments, the stack comprises at least two ramp elements connected to each other by connector structures.

[0051] In some embodiments, the stack comprises at least two ramp bodies placed upside down on a ramp element, the two ramp bodies connected to each other by connector structures.

[0052] In accordance with third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing a temporary ramp arrangement comprising ramp elements according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect and / or the second aspect, the method comprising placing a first ramp element on ground underneath, and placing a second ramp element next to the first ramp element, and connecting the second ramp element to the first ramp element.

[0053] In some embodiments, the method comprises placing the ramp element on uneven ground comprising a flatter surface and a steeper surface, the method comprising locating a first ramp body of the ramp element on the flatter surface and a second ramp body of the ramp element on the steeper surface, and allowing the bridging portion to flex such that the first ramp body is angled relative to the second ramp body.

[0054] In some embodiments, the method comprises locating the bridging portion of a ramp element over an exposed structure to be protected.

[0055] In accordance with fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a temporary ramp element according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect and / or to be used in any one of the embodiments of the second or third aspects, the method comprising providing a mould, using a first moulding procedure to manufacture a first ramp body comprising a bridging portion, using a second moulding procedure to manufacture a second ramp body comprising a bridging portion, and

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[0057] 6 assembling the first ramp body and the second ramp body via their respective bridging portion to form the ramp element.

[0058] In some embodiments, the same mould is used for the first moulding procedure and for the second moulding procedure.

[0059] In some embodiments, different moulds are used for the first moulding procedure and for the second moulding procedure.

[0060] For instance, the first and second ramp bodies may be made from different colour material.

[0061] In some embodiments, the first ramp body and the second ramp body have the same shape.

[0062] In some embodiments, the method comprises keeping in storage after the moulding procedure one or both of the first ramp body and the second ramp body, and retrieving from storage one or more respective ramp bodies prior to the step of assembling the ramp element.

[0063] Features described in relation to one or more embodiments of the first aspect may be combined with any embodiment according to the second aspect, third aspect or fourth aspect. Likewise, embodiments of the fourth aspect may comprise one or more steps to create features described in relation to any one of the first or second aspect, and / or to be used in any one of the embodiments of the third aspect. For instance, ramp elements may be assembled in accordance with embodiments of the fourth aspect from ramp bodies stored in a stack in accordance with embodiments of the second aspect.

[0064] Description of the Figures

[0065] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which:

[0066] Figure 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment;

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[0068] 7

[0069] Figure 2 is a side view of the Figure 1 embodiment in an in-use configuration;

[0070] Figure 3 is a side view of the Figure 1 embodiment in another in-use configuration;

[0071] Figure 4 is an exploded isometric view of the Figure 1 embodiment;

[0072] Figure 5 is an isometric view of a ramp body component used in embodiments;

[0073] Figures 6 and 7 are top and underneath views of the Figure 5 component;

[0074] Figure 8 is an end view of an inner end of the Figure 5 component;

[0075] Figure 9 is an end view of an outer end of the Figure 1 embodiment;

[0076] Figure 10 is a side view of the Figure 5 component;

[0077] Figure 11 is an underneath view of the Figure 1 embodiment;

[0078] Figure 12 is a detail view of a connector arrangement;

[0079] Figure 13 is an isometric view of a temporary ramp arrangement; and

[0080] Figure 14 is a side view of a stack of ramp elements and ramp body components.

[0081] Description

[0082] Referring to the Figures, a ramp element 10 comprises two ramp bodies 20a, 20b, each of the two ramp bodies 20a, 20b comprising a generally wedge-shaped main body 13a, 13b comprising an in-use upper surface to define a slope 12a, 12b, respectively, when placed on ground 1 underneath. The ramp bodies 20a, 20b are connected by a bridge 14 at the apex of the ramp bodies 20a, 20b, a region 15 underneath the bridge 14 providing a free region of the ramp element 10, between the ramp bodies 20a, 20b making up the ramp element 10.

[0083] Laterally along each wedge-shaped ramp body 20a, 20b, the ramp element 10 comprises lateral side walls, the side wall being provided with a connector arrangement comprising, on one lateral side, a protrusion 16a, 16b and, on the opposite lateral side, a corresponding recess 17a, 17b. The protrusions 16a, 16b are shaped complementarily to the recesses 17a, 17b, respectively, to join in the manner of a dovetail joint (see Figure 12), and permit side-to-side attachment of a ramp arrangement (see Figure 13). The connector arrangement comprises a profile extending practically homogenously vertically, in-use upright, to allow a ramp element 10 to be placed, in use, from above to engage a next ramp element already in place. As such, individual ramp elements can be placed separately, one after the other, to create a ramp arrangement of multiple ramp elements.

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[0085] 8

[0086] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a side view of a ramp element 10 laid on even ground 1 and on uneven ground 2, respectively. The ramp bodies 20a, 20b support the ramp element 10 and may be placed such that the bridge 14 passes over a structure 3, such as a pipe or cables. The bridge 14 comprises a hinge portion 14f that is relatively flexible, i.e. more flexible than the ramp bodies 20. For instance, the hinge portion 14f may be defined by a relatively thin structure, and / or by a softer material. For a moulded design, it was found to be practical that the bridge comprises a flap of even cross-section, provided with an arrangement of protrusions such as ribs, which may be more practical for manufacture by moulding, to provide a relatively thicker bridge region laterally of the hinge portion. For instance, two rows of ribs may be arranged such that each row comprises spaced apart ribs reducing flexibility along the row, e.g. perpendicular to the bridge span, and wherein the rows are spaced apart by a rib-free region, that is more likely to bend along a bend line between the rows.

[0087] As shown in Figure 3, the hinge portion 14f extends perpendicular to the bridge span direction, to permit the ramp bodies 20a, 20b to flex relative to each other, while being connected. This allows the ramp element 10 to be placed on uneven ground 2. An appreciation underlying the development of embodiments was that temporary bypass ramps may be placed to cover pipes or cables that are routed along kerbsides or to cross a driveway ramp. It is not unusual for the temporary ramp element 10 to be placed such that one half is on a flatter ground, and the other half is on the steeper ground. The provision of the hinge portion 14f provides that the slopes 12a, 12b can be made of relatively rigid, load-bearing material while still allowing the ramp element 10 to conform to ground underneath.

[0088] Some regions of the bridge portion 14, specifically regions laterally of the hinge portion 14f, may be reinforced, to avoid random flexing across the span of the bridge portion 14, for instance by rib arrangements on the underside of the bridge 14 (see rib arrangements 28, 29 in Figure 10). Thereby, the ramp element 10 flexes predominantly, and for practical purposes only, along the hinge portion 14f, defining a bend line, whereas the ramp bodies 20a, 20b remain sufficiently rigid to provide protection for the structure 3 underneath.

[0089] The ramp bodies 20a, 20b may have the same shape, described with reference to the ramp body 20 in Figures 5 to 10, which constitutes a smaller-footprint sub-unit for

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[0091] 9 assembly of a modular ramp of larger footprint (compared to a single ramp body). Herein, elements of a ramp body 20 may be identified by numerals without suffix, and, where appropriate, the same elements may be identified by the same numeral with a suffix -a for one ramp element and with a suffix -b for another ramp element, and without numeral to refer to either or both of the ramp elements.

[0092] The ramp body 20 comprises, in profile, a shallower end and a higher end, defining the slope 12. The bridge 14 connects the higher ends when the ramp bodies 20a, 20b are assembled to form the ramp element 10, such that the ramp element 10 has two distal shallow ends and an apex partway (here: in the middle) between the distal shallow ends. At the higher end, the ramp body 20 comprises an upright wall 22, the in-use upward facing surface of which comprises a recessed region 24, recessed into the slope, constituting a bridge cradle, and a flap 30 constituting a bridging portion. The flaps 30a, 30b are referred to as bridging portions. It will be appreciated that a part of each flap 30, proximal to the upright wall 22 will provide a connecting portion 14a, 14b to provide, when assembled, a bridge 14 spanning a space between two opposite upright walls 22a, 22b, and that another part of each flap 30, distal to the upright wall 22, provides a part of the bridging portion to engage a recessed region 24.

[0093] Herein, a distal portion of the flap 30 is shaped complementarily to the recessed region 24. In the shown example, each flap 30 has approximately the same width as the recessed region, each taking up about half the width of the ramp body 20. A ramp element 10 may be assembled by placing a first flap 30a of a first ramp body 20a in a second recessed region 24b of a second ramp body 20b, and correspondingly placing a second flap 30b of the second ramp body 20b in a first recessed region 24a of the first ramp body 20a.

[0094] The recessed region 24 is recessed within the ramp body 20 to provide a cradle, a cradle depth of which corresponds to a flap height of the flap 30. It will be appreciated that a reference to a corresponding height and depth, or width, respectively, of a flap and cradle includes geometries in which the flap is somewhat smaller, less thick or less wide, respectively, for ease of assembly. Referring to Figure 10, the slope 12 comprises a ramp contour 121a defining the upward-facing surface of the slope, from which a cradle contour 124a is recessed by a cradle depth. The flap 30 comprises a flap contour 121b and a flap thickness that fits into the recess region 24 such that the

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[0096] 10 flap contour 121b sits flush with the corresponding ramp contour 121a of another ramp body. Thereby, the distal portion of each flap 30a, 30b can sit flush within a ramp contour of the slopes 12a, 12b, respectively.

[0097] The flap 30 comprises a distal portion, located further from the wall 22, and a connecting portion 14a, 14b respectively. The rigidity of each flap 30 is increased in some regions by a first support arrangement, here in the form of a rib arrangement 29, to provide higher rigidity of the bridge regions closer to the wall 22. Partway along the length of the flap 30, in the region of the connecting portion 14, the flap 30 comprises a second support arrangement, here in the form of a rib arrangement 28. Ribs of the rib 28 arrangement may provide an abutment for contacting a wall 22 of an opposite ramp body. The underside of the rib arrangements 28, 29 may be concavely curved, corresponding to a segment of round pipe passing through underneath. When assembled to a ramp element 10, the rib arrangements 28a, 29a of one ramp body 20a and the rib arrangements 28b, 29b of another ramp body 20b combine to form two rows of ribs, each row comprising the ribs 29 closer to the wall 22 of the own ramp body and the distal ribs 28 of the other ramp body. The two rows define a rigid support arrangement, or a region of higher stiffness, for the bridge 14, extending across the width dimension of the ramp element 10. The two rows (29a+28b and 29b+28a) are spaced apart by a rib-free region of greater flexibility between the rib arrangements to define the region of the hinge 14f.

[0098] As will be appreciated, by designing and / or positioning the first and second support arrangements, e.g. the geometry and spacing of the ribs, the location and size of the hinge region 14f can be altered (at a design stage) to be at a desired location partway between the ramp bodies. In this manner, the ramp body 10 may flex as illustrated in Figure 3, at the hinge 14f. In this manner, the first and second support arrangements improve protection for a structure 3 underneath.

[0099] The flap 30 comprises an arrangement of one or more (here: two) sockets 32 providing a seating surface comprising a first surface region (in use, an upper surface region) for a load-distributing component, such as a washer plate. E.g., the seating surface may be dimensioned to accommodate a washer plate. The underside of the flap 30 comprises, in the region underneath the sockets 32, a first locating structure 33, here comprising an anisometric cross-section, to provide, or be part of, a locator

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[0101] 11 arrangement. Each first locating structure 33 protrudes downward under the socket 32, and a down-facing abutment surface. The recessed region 24 comprises an arrangement of (here: two) cradles 26, further recessed into the recessed region 24, and comprising an upward-facing abutment surface. The cradles 26 are arranged and dimensioned to accommodate the first locating structure 33. Each cradle 26 comprises a second locating structure 27 that is complementary to the first locating structure 33. Opposite the upward-facing abutment surface, in use on the underside of the cradle 26, the cradle 26 comprises and engagement surface to provide, or be part of, a seat arrangement. Similarly to the seating surface, the engagement surface comprises a second surface region (in use, a lower surface region) for a load-distributing arrangement, such as a further washer plate.

[0102] To assemble a ramp element 10 from two ramp bodies 20, i.e. a from first ramp body 20a and a second ramp body 20b, the locating structures 33 of each flap 30 of one ramp body are aligned in the cradles 26 of each recessed region 24 of the respective other ramp body. The tolerances may be designed for practical purposes to be relatively tight. The provision of first locating structures 33 and corresponding, complementarily shaped second locating structures 27, provides an arrangement of locators to fit into corresponding seats, and helps to ensure that the two ramp bodies 20a, 20b are aligned without requiring much alignment effort at the time of assembly. For instance, in this manner, simple visual inspection of flush seated flaps 30 provides reassurance that the ramp element 10 is properly assembled. The recessed region 24 provides a ledge, or stepped surface, that inhibits that the flap 30 slides out of its location. Furthermore, the rib arrangement 28 may be shaped, as shown herein, such that it abuts against the upright wall 22, further contributing to the load-bearing properties of the ramp element 10.

[0103] The two ramp bodies 20a, 20b are fixed to one another by suitable means. As illustrated in Figure 4, the assembly may comprise an arrangement of threaded fasteners 42a and corresponding nuts 42b. The fastener arrangement may comprise washer plates 40, here eight washer plates 40, one each to be located in one of the four seating surfaces on top of the sockets 32, and one each to be located against one of the four engagement surfaces constituting the underside of the cradles 26. The washer plates 40 help to distribute loads across a large proportion of the flaps 30, to help to ensure that the flaps 30 are held within the recessed regions 26. While the

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[0105] 12 exemplary embodiment shows threaded fasteners, other fasteners such as rivets, bayonet-style turn-and-lock engagements, or other suitable fasteners may be used in some embodiments.

[0106] With reference to Figure 8, the highest region or apex of a flap 30 may be constituted by the bridge portion 14, providing an arched profile. With reference to Figure 9, an assembled ramp element 10 may have a common apex A wherein a first flap 30a of a first ramp body 20a has practically the same height as a second flap 30b of a second ramp body 20b. This facilitates using the ramp elements 10 as ramp modules to create of a ramp assembly.

[0107] Turning to Figure 12, the connectors of the connector arrangement are arranged as protrusions and recesses in the form of a dove-tail connection, and comprise an elongate extension extending along the ramp direction of the ramp bodies 20a, 20b. By elongate extension along the ramp direction, it is meant that the protrusion sticks out less than it extends along the ramp, and that the recess is less deep than wide. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal ends of the connectors are flat. The distal head end 164 of the protrusion 16 provides a flat exterior face providing an engagement wall. Likewise, the inner wall 174 of the recess 17 comprises a flat interior face providing an engagement wall. In this manner, protrusions 16 that are free, i.e. not linked to an adjacent ramp element, stick out only by a small distance, while providing a relatively strong connection when used. Likewise, the shallow geometry and flat silhouette of the recess 17 reduces a trip hazard from a free, i.e. unconnected, recess 17.

[0108] The protrusion 16 comprises, here, laterally-facing nubs 162 for a tighter engagement, when adjacent ramp bodies 10 are linked via protrusions 16 with nubs 162.

[0109] Figure 13 illustrates a ramp arrangement 11 of multiple (here eight) ramp elements 10a-10h used in the form of ramp modules. To provide an illustration of scale, a ramp element 10 may have a ramp-ramp length of around 1.20 metres, and a width of around 0.40 metres. As such, a ramp arrangement 11 of eight ramp elements 10a-10h connected side-by-side may provide a bridge, or temporary ramp, of around 3.20 metres width, which may suffice as ramp for a typical vehicle.

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[0111] 13

[0112] The ramp arrangement 11 may be installed by placing a first, or preceding, ramp element 10a on ground underneath, and then placing a second, or subsequent, ramp element 10b next to the first ramp element 10a, and connecting the second ramp element 10b to the first ramp element 10a by engaging the corresponding protrusions 16 and recesses 17, and repeating the process until a ramp assembly has a desired width. As will be appreciated, if it is desired that the ramp arrangement 11 covers a structure 3 such as a pipe or cable, that would otherwise be exposed, the ramp elements 10 are placed such that the structure 3 extends through the clear region 15 underneath each bridge 14 (See Figures 1 to 3). Furthermore, if the ground underneath is not even, the bridge 14 may be used to flex one ramp body relative to another ramp body, as illustrated in Figure 3. The provision of two sets of connector arrangements, one corresponding protrusion 16a and recess 17a on one ramp body 20a, and another corresponding protrusion 16b and recess 17b on the other ramp body 20b, allows the connection to be formed both on an even area of ground underneath and on a sloped area of ground underneath.

[0113] Figure 14 illustrates a side view of a stack comprising ramp elements 10a to 10f (which may or may not be assembled from ramp bodies) and ramp bodies 21 placed upside down. Each ramp body 21 corresponds to a ramp body 20 described above. As can be appreciated, the provision of individual, unassembled ramp bodies 21 allows the ramp elements to be placed, with their inner upright walls 22 facing outward, such that two ramp bodies 21 are arranged, shallow end to shallow end, to sit on two ramp bodies (which may be assembled to a ramp element) placed with their inner upright walls 22 facing each other. In this manner, four ramp bodies, or a ramp element and two ramp bodies, can be placed on top of each other to create a horizontal seating surface for another layer of ramp elements or ramp bodies. The arrangement may be reversed, upside down or sideways, such that individual ramp bodies 21 are placed with their in-use upward-facing slopes facing the corresponding in-use upward-facing slopes of a ramp elements 10.

[0114] The ramp element 10 may be of moulded form. The ramp bodies may be injection- moulded or compression-moulded. Different ramp bodies may be moulded in the same mould. Likewise, ramp bodies of the same or corresponding shape may be moulded in different moulds. Two such ramp bodies may then be assembled, as indicated in

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[0116] 14

[0117] Figure 4, to form a ramp element comprising two ramp bodies connected by a bridging portion with a clear region between the ramp bodies.

[0118] As will be appreciated, the ramp bodies may be manufactured as subunits, to be transported and / or stored for assembly at a different location or time.

[0119] The ramp bodies may be of suitable plastics material, such as thermoplastics material. In some embodiments, at least one ramp body are made from recycled plastics material. In some embodiments, at least one ramp body is made from virgin thermoplastics material. In some embodiments, the thermoplastics material is chosen from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). Other suitable materials might be used depending on colour, size and geometry of the moulded components.

[0120] It is a practical aspect of the invention that the ramp bodies making up a ramp element may be made using the same mould, or using moulds for the same or similar-shaped product. However, the invention is not necessarily limited in this regard. For instance, the ramp element may be assembled from two different ramp bodies. In that case, the ramp bodies may have different properties, such as different colours, different anti-slip properties, different surface markings, and / or different ramp angles.

[0121] Within wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that one of the benefits of the invention is that it enables the manufacture of relatively larger-footprint ramp elements with relatively smaller-footprint mould sizes to manufacture sub-units, in the form of individual ramp bodies. Specifically, the ramp element of the invention is made from moulded components cast in moulds that are smaller than the ramp element. The use of smaller modular elements, for assembly of a relatively larger-footprint ramp element, enables the manufacture of relatively larger ramp elements, with potentially shallower slope angles, with smaller moulds. Ramp elements from the same mould and / or from different moulds may be combined to provide ramps with different properties or geometries, if desired, without necessarily requiring larger, more expensive, moulds.

[0122] The exemplary embodiments of the invention show a single bridging portion per ramp body, such that two bridging portions connect in a complementary manner to form a ramp element. The invention is not necessarily limited to complementary ramp bodies,

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[0124] 15 e.g. two different ramp bodies could be provided in which one ramp body provides a protrusion in the form of a bridging portion, and another ramp body provides a bridge cradle for the bridging portion. Likewise, one ramp body may comprise a bridging portion to sit between two bridging portions of another ramp body. However, in many embodiments, it is preferred that the ramp bodies are self-complementary, comprising an arrangement of bridging portion and bridge cradle of one ramp body to complement the bridging portion and bridge cradle of another ramp body of same shape, rotated 180 degrees.

[0125] Embodiments may comprise more than one bridging portion and / or more than one bridge cradle per ramp body to provide mutually complementing connections. The mutually complementing connections may be crenelated (generally rectangular or tapered), toothed (triangular), of wave form (curved) or may comprise re-entrant lobe shapes, wherein re-entrant lobes are understood to comprise protruding bridging portions comprising a head end with wider cross-section than a neck portion carrying the head end, and to comprise bridge cradles comprising a recess with wider crosssection than a mouth portion from which the recess extends.

[0126] It is believed to be advantageous if the bridging portion is connected to a bridge cradle with at least one load-distributing element, such as a washer plate, or using at least two spaced-apart fastening means, or both at least two spaced-apart fastening means with an arrangement of load-distributing elements. In this manner, the likelihood is increased that the entirety of the bridging portion is retained within the profile of the connected ramp body. Conversely, in this manner a risk is reduced of a portion or corner of a bridging portion sticking out and potentially creating a trip hazard.

[0127] The illustrated embodiments comprise integrally moulded bridge portions, in the form of flaps 30, and integrally formed bridge cradles, in the form of recessed regions 24. In some variants, the ramp bodies may comprise recessed regions to be connected by a separate bridge portion comprising two opposite free edges, wherein the bridge portion may be shaped to sit within the profile of the ramp bodies and / or may comprise regions of greater flexibility to provide a hinge region in a part of the bridge portion, and relatively stiffer regions in other parts of the bridge portion.

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[0129] 16

[0130] To provide an illustrative example of scale, the ramp bodies 20a, 20b may be designed such that the clearance 15 can accommodate a 4.5” diameter (114.3 mm diameter) pipe, i.e. the span of the bridge 14 and the height of the upright walls 22 may be at least 115 mm. Such dimensions are believed to cover a wide range of typical installations in typical use scenarios. However, the invention is not necessarily limited to such exemplary dimensions and other ramp sizes and / or geometries may be used in other embodiments.

[0131] Whilst the principle of the invention has been illustrated using exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not so limited and that the invention may be embodied by other variants defined within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims

CPOPS112GB17CLAIMS:

1. A temporary ramp element comprising two ramp bodies, each ramp body comprising a ramped main body, at least one ramp body comprising a bridging portion and at least one ramp body comprising a bridge cradle, the bridging portion of one of the two ramp bodies to be seated in the bridge cradle of the other of the two ramp bodies, the two ramp bodies are connected to each other by engagement of the bridging portion in the bridge cradle.

2. The ramp element according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two ramp bodies comprises a bridging portion and a bridge cradle.

3. The ramp element according to claim 2, wherein at least one bridging portion comprises an arched profile.

4. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one bridging portion comprises a locator arrangement, and wherein at least one bridge cradle comprises a seat arrangement shaped to align with the locator arrangement when the bridging portion is seated in the bridge cradle.

5. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one bridge cradle is recessed within a ramp contour of its ramp body such that the bridging portion engaged in the at least one bridge cradle sits flush with the ramp contour of the ramp body comprising the cradle portion.

6. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one bridging portion of at least one ramp body has greater flexibility than the ramp body.

7. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bridging portion has a flexibility that varies along a bridge span between ramp bodies.

8. The ramp element according to claim 7, wherein the bridging portion has greater flexibility partway between the ramp bodies.Version 2025-12-05CPOPS112GB189. The ramp element according to claim 8, wherein the bridging portion has greater flexibility in a centre region between the ramp bodies.

10. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one bridging portion imparts flexibility to the ramp element in the manner of a living hinge.

11. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one bridging portion permits bending one of the two ramp bodies relative to the other of the two ramp bodies.

12. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ramp bodies are spaced apart by the at least one bridging portion to define a passage between them.

13. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ramp bodies are connected to each other via engagement of the bridging portions in the bridge cradles, providing an unconnected region underneath the bridging portions.

14. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two ramp bodies have the same shape.

15. The ramp element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein lateral portions of at least one ramp body comprise a connector arrangement comprising connector structures permitting side-by-side connection of two temporary ramp elements.

16. The ramp element according to claim 15, wherein the connector arrangement for side-by-side connection is located on the ramp bodies, offset from the bridging portion.

17. The ramp element according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the connector arrangement comprises a recess and a corresponding protrusion shaped to engage in the recess.Version 2025-12-05CPOPS112GB1918. The ramp element according to claim 17, wherein the recess extends across the full body height of the ramp body.

19. The ramp element according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the protrusion comprises a flat exterior face extending parallel to the ramp body.

20. The ramp element according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the connector structures comprise an elongate extension extending in the ramp direction of the ramp body more than in a direction perpendicular to the ramp direction.

21. A stack for stacking a plurality of ramp elements according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first ramp element and at least one ramp body, the ramp element and the at least one ramp body placed such that their in-use upward- facing ramp surfaces face each other to provide a generally cuboid stack.

22. A stack according to claim 21 , comprising at least two ramp elements connected to each other by connector structures, and / or comprising at least two ramp bodies placed upside down on a ramp element, the two ramp bodies connected to each other by connector structures.

23. A method of installing a temporary ramp arrangement comprising ramp elements according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising placing a first ramp element on ground underneath, and placing a second ramp element next to the first ramp element, and connecting the second ramp element to the first ramp element.

24. The method according to claim 23, comprising placing the ramp element on uneven ground comprising a flatter surface and a steeper surface, the method comprising locating a first ramp body on the flatter surface and a second ramp body on the steeper surface, and allowing the bridging portion to flex such that the first ramp body is angled relative to the second ramp body.

25. The method according to claim 24, comprising locating the bridging portion of the ramp element over an exposed structure to be protected.Version 2025-12-05CPOPS112GB2026. A method of manufacturing a temporary ramp element according to any one of claims 1 to 20, the method comprising providing a mould, using a first moulding procedure to manufacture a first ramp body comprising a bridging portion, using a second moulding procedure to manufacture a second ramp body comprising a bridging portion, and assembling the first ramp body and the second ramp body via their respective bridging portion to form the ramp element.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the same mould is used for the first moulding procedure and for the second moulding procedure.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein different moulds are used for the first moulding procedure and for the second moulding procedure.

29. The method according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the first ramp body and the second ramp body have the same shape.

30. The method according to any one of claims 26 to 29, comprising keeping in storage after the moulding procedure one or both of the first ramp body and the second ramp body, and retrieving from storage one or more respective ramp bodies prior to the step of assembling the ramp element.Version 2025-12-05

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