Abstract
A safety transition ladder, including a fall prevention enclosure that includes a ladder enclosure section and a platform enclosure section, wherein the platform enclosure section includes a plurality of platforms that are accessible from the ladder enclosure section and an opening of a railcar, and a plurality of connectors that are configured to attach the safety transition ladder to a ladder of the railcar.
Claims
1. A safety transition ladder, comprising: a fall prevention enclosure that includes a ladder enclosure section and a platform enclosure section, wherein the platform enclosure section includes a plurality of platforms that are accessible from the ladder enclosure section and an opening of a railcar; and a plurality of connectors that are configured to attach the safety transition ladder to a ladder of the railcar.
2. The safety transition ladder according to claim 1, wherein the fall prevention enclosure includes a plurality of railings.
3. The safety transition ladder according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of platforms corresponds to a level of a railcar.
4. The safety transition ladder according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of platforms corresponds to a level of a bi-level railcar.
5. The safety transition ladder according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of platforms corresponds to a level of a tri-level railcar.
6. The safety transition ladder according to claim 1, wherein a height level of each of the plurality of platforms is adjustable.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a multi-level railcar according to the related art.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a safety transition ladder according to an example embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a right-side view of the safety transition ladder according to an example embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIGS. 4A and 4B separately, and in combination, illustrate ingress to and egress from a multi-level railcar according to an example embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, like reference numbers will be used for like elements.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a safety transition ladder 200 according to an example embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, safety transition ladder 200 includes a fall prevention enclosure 210 that includes two sections, namely a ladder enclosure section 220 and a platform enclosure section 230, the two sections being divided along dashed line A-A′ in a vertical direction (i.e., dashed line B-B′ of FIG. 3). Safety transition ladder 200 further includes base 240 that is physically joined to and configured to physically support fall prevention enclosure 210. Base 240 includes a steering unit 250 and a plurality of wheel assemblies 260.
[0022] Fall prevention enclosure 210, including each of ladder enclosure section 220 and platform enclosure section 230, includes a plurality of railings to provide an enclosure around a user in either of the sections. The plurality of railings are configured to prevent a user from falling to the ground, and/or limit the direction of falls to vertical falls in ladder enclosure section 220. A plurality of openings, such as opening 226, enable a user to safely enter or exit safety transition ladder 200.
[0023] Ladder enclosure section 220 is physically coupled onto a railcar ladder (e.g., ladder 121 of FIG. 1) using one or more connectors (e.g., hook connectors 221, 222 of FIG. 3). From ladder enclosure section 220 or the opening of a railcar, the user may access one or more enclosed platforms 231, 232, 233 in platform enclosure section 230. The height or level of each of the one or more enclosed platforms corresponding to a level of the railcar. In an example tri-level configuration, platform 231 may correspond to a lower level, platform 232 may correspond to a middle level, and platform 233 may correspond to an upper level. The number, and height or level, of each enclosed platform may be adjusted to match the railcar. For example, each of enclosed platforms may be configured to clip onto fall prevention enclosure 210 using one or more connectors, such as hook, screw/bolt, track, tongue/groove, etc. As readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, numerous configurations are possible.
[0024] The example embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 further includes a plurality of wheel assemblies 260. In this example configuration, four wheels assemblies 260 are coupled to base 240; however, numerous wheel mount configurations are feasible. A variety of wheel types may be used. Example wheel types include standard, orientable, multi-directional, and omni-directional wheels. As readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, numerous configurations are possible. Coupled to base 240 is steering unit 250 (e.g., a steering rail) that is used to guide the movement of safety transition ladder 200, such as moving safety transition ladder 200 toward and away from the railcar.
[0025] Safety transition ladder 200, and the components thereof, can be formed from various materials including metals and/or durable plastics. In some instances, lightweight metals, such as Aluminum, may be used.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a right-side view of the safety transition ladder 200 according to an example embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, safety transition ladder 200 includes a fall prevention enclosure 210 that includes two sections, namely a ladder enclosure section 220 and a platform enclosure section 230, the two sections being divided along dashed line B-B′ in the vertical direction (and dashed line A-A′ in a traverse direction, as shown in FIG. 1). Safety transition ladder 200 further includes base 240 that is physically joined to and configured to physically support fall prevention enclosure 210. Base 240 includes a steering unit 250 and a plurality of wheel assemblies 260.
[0028] Fall prevention enclosure 210, including each of ladder enclosure section 220 and platform enclosure section 230, includes a plurality of railings to provide an enclosure around a user in either of the sections. The plurality of railings are configured to prevent a user from falling to the ground, and/or limit the direction of falls to vertical falls in ladder enclosure section 220. A plurality of openings, such as opening 226, enable a user to safely enter or exit safety transition ladder 200.
[0029] Ladder enclosure section 220 is physically coupled onto a railcar ladder (e.g., ladder 121 of FIG. 1) using one or more connectors, such as hook connectors 221, 222. From ladder enclosure section 220 or the opening of a railcar, the user may access one or more enclosed platforms 231, 232, 233 in platform enclosure section 230. The height or level of each of the one or more enclosed platforms corresponding to a level of the railcar. In an example tri-level configuration, platform 231 may correspond to a lower level, platform 232 may correspond to a middle level, and platform 233 may correspond to an upper level. The number, and height or level, of each enclosed platform may be adjusted to match the railcar. For example, each of enclosed platforms may be configured to clip onto fall prevention enclosure 210 using one or more connectors, such as hook, screw/bolt, track, tongue/groove, etc. As readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, numerous configurations are possible.
[0030] The example embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 further includes a plurality of wheel assemblies 260. In this example configuration, four wheels assemblies 260 are coupled to base 240; however, numerous wheel mount configurations are feasible. A variety of wheel types may be used. Example wheel types include standard, orientable, multi-directional, and omni-directional wheels. As readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, numerous configurations are possible. Coupled to base 240 is steering unit 250 (e.g., a steering rail) that is used to guide the movement of safety transition ladder 200, such as moving safety transition ladder 200 toward and away from the railcar.
[0031] FIGS. 4A and 4B separately, and in combination, illustrate ingress to and egress from a multi-level railcar according to an example embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] As shown in each of FIGS. 4A and 4B, safety transition ladder 400A, 400B includes a fall prevention enclosure that includes two sections, namely ladder enclosure section 420 and platform enclosure section 430. The user can easily access the opening of the rail car using the platform 432. In addition, safety transition ladder 400A, 400B enables multiple users to enter or exit the rail car. For example, when users are exiting the railcar, one user may go down the ladder while a second user waits to go down the ladder while remaining on the platform.
[0033] As described herein, a device, which couples to existing railcar ladders and offers a fall prevention enclosure and transition platforms at each of the railcar levels (e.g., bi-level or tri-level) for safe entry and exiting of railcars, is provided. The fall prevention enclosure provides a safety backstop that prevents falling from railcar ladders. Also provided is one or more platforms for each level making transitioning in and out of railcars much safer. Accordingly, falls and injuries will be greatly reduced by utilizing the embodiments of the invention as described herein.
[0034] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the railroad safety device of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
