Kerb Ramp

Abstract

A kerb ramp is described comprising a ramp body (12), a stop member (28) depending downwardly from the ramp body (12), an upper lip (20) secured to an upper edge part (16) of the ramp body (12) that, in use, is supported upon the kerb or footpath surface, and a lower lip (22) secured to a lower edge part (18) of the ramp body (12) that, in use, is supported upon the road surface, wherein the upper and lower lips (20, 22) are of a rubber or rubber-like plastics material and extend beneath the ramp body (12) to engage, respectively, the kerb or footpath surface and the road surface, and wherein the stop member (28) is engageable, in use, with an upright wall of the kerb.

Claims

1. A kerb ramp comprising a ramp body, a stop member depending downwardly from the ramp body, an upper lip secured to an upper edge part of the ramp body that, in use, is supported upon the kerb or footpath surface, and a lower lip secured to a lower edge part of the ramp body that, in use, is supported upon the road surface, wherein the upper and lower lips are of a rubber or rubber-like plastics material and extend beneath the ramp body to engage, respectively, the kerb or footpath surface and the road surface, and wherein the stop member is engageable, in use, with an upright wall of the kerb.

2. A kerb ramp according to claim 1, wherein the stop member comprises a downwardly depending wall.

3. A kerb ramp according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower lips are of a relatively dense plastics material.

4. A kerb ramp according to claim 3, wherein the relatively dense plastics material includes a quantity of recycled material.

5. A kerb ramp according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower lips are secured to the ramp body by a snap fit coupling.

6. A kerb ramp according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower lips are secured to the ramp body by being bolted or adhered to the ramp body, or by including features that are an interference fit with features of the ramp body.

Description

[0009] The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a kerb ramp in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation showing the kerb ramp installed in position; and

[0012] FIGS. 3 to 9 illustrate various arrangements by which the upper and lower lips of the kerb ramp may be secured to the ramp body.

[0013] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a kerb ramp 10 is illustrated that comprises a ramp body 12 of moulded plastics material form. As illustrated, the ramp body 12 includes a pair of side walls 14 which serve to clearly demarcate the sides of the ramp to users, reducing the risk of users falling from the ramp, in use, and also reduce flexing of the ramp body 12 when a load is applied thereto. The upper surface of the ramp body 12 is provided with an anti-slip surface texture.

[0014] If desired, the underside of the ramp body 12 may be formed with one or more reinforcing ribs (not shown) to ensure that the load bearing capacity of the kerb ramp 10 is sufficiently high to bear the weight of users, in use.

[0015] As illustrated, the ramp body 12 includes an upper edge part 16 and a lower edge part 18, the upper surfaces of edge parts 16, 18 being angled relative to the upper surface of the remainder of the ramp body 12, the angling of the edge parts 16, 18 being such that when used in conjunction with a typical height of kerb, the upper edge part 16 and the lower edge part 18 will lie substantially parallel to the kerb or footpath surface and the road surface, respectively, in use.

[0016] Upper and lower lip members 20, 22 and secured, respectively, to the upper and lower edge parts 16, 18. The lip members 20, 22 serve several functions. Firstly, they extend beneath the edge parts 16, 18, and so are the parts of the kerb ramp that bear, in use, upon the kerb or footpath surface and the road surface. They are of a flexible plastics material such as a soft PVC material, having rubber or rubber-like qualities in the sense that they are able to flex and grip the underlying surfaces, in use, resisting sliding movement of the kerb ramp 10. The material of the lip members 20, 22 is preferably relatively dense, adding to the weight of the kerb ramp. They may, if desired, incorporate a quantity of a recycled plastics material.

[0017] In addition to extending beneath the edge parts 16, 18, the lip members 20, 22 are of ramped form, reducing the formation of a trip hazard presented to users approaching the kerb ramp 10.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, a stop member in the form of a wall 28 depends downwardly from the underside of the ramp body 12, the wall 28 being located relatively close to the upper edge part 16 and being arranged such that, in use, when the kerb ramp 10 is correctly installed, the wall 28 bears against a face of the kerb, preventing movement of the kerb ramp 10 further towards the footpath.

[0019] In use, installation of the kerb ramp simply requires the kerb ramp 10 to be positioned in the desired location with the upper lip member 20 sat upon the kerb or footpath surface and the lower lip member 22 sat upon the road surface, and with the wall 24 positioned adjacent or abutting the wall of the kerb. Once so positioned, the kerb ramp 10 will be stable, and so is safe for users to walk or ride over to move between the level of the footpath and the level of the road surface. The nature of the material of the lip members 20, 22, and the fact that it is the lip members 20, 22 rather than the material of the ramp body 12 that bears against the underlying surfaces resists lateral sliding or slipping of the kerb ramp 10, and the provision of the wall 28 prevents movement of the kerb ramp 10 closer to the footpath. The density of the lip members 20, 22 adds weight to the ramp 10 which further reduces the risk of undesired movement of the ramp 10.

[0020] As the installation operation is very simple, it is thought that the risk of incorrect installation is minimised, and thereby that the risk of accidents arising from users using an incorrectly installed ramp is reduced.

[0021] The lip members 20, 22 may be secured to the edge parts 16, 18 using a range of techniques. By way of example, FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate an arrangement in which the edge parts 16, 18 are provided with downwardly depending projections 30, the projections 30 including cut-outs 32 to receive flexible teeth 34 provided on the lip members 20, 22 in a snap fit manner. To ensure correct location of the lip members 20, 22, recesses 36 are conveniently provided in the projections 30 to receive bridge parts 38 provided in the lip members 20, 22.

[0022] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrates a similar arrangement but in which the teeth 34 are provided on the projections 30.

[0023] FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate an arrangement in which a snap fit coupling 40 is used to secure the lip members 20, 22 to the edge parts 16, 18, extending through openings formed therein.

[0024] FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate an arrangement in which a flange or lip 42 provided on each of the edge parts 16, 18 is received within a slot or recess 44 provided in the associated lip member 20, 22. The flange or lip 42 may be an interference fit within the slot or recess 44. Alternatively, it may be retained therein using adhesive, or bolts or other fittings may be used to secure the flange or lip 42 in position. FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate an arrangement in which the flange or lip 42 is provided upon the lip member 20, 22, and FIGS. 8a and 8b illustrate the case where the flange or lip 42 is profiled to be received within a re-entrant slot or recess 44.

[0025] FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate an arrangement in which the edge parts 20, 22 are of two piece form and are secured to one another in such a manner as to clamp therebetween, in use, a tongue 46 provided on the associated lip member 20, 22.

[0026] It will be appreciated that the various techniques by which the lip members 20, 22 may be secured to the edge parts 16, 18 described hereinbefore merely constitute examples of techniques that may be used, and that a number of other techniques may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Similarly, whilst FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one example embodiment of the invention, a number of modifications and alterations may be made thereto in accordance with the invention.