Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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17.09.2013
SP10847PCT
Access flooring for a scaffolding
The invention relates to an access flooring for a scaffolding
having an access door which closes an access opening in the
access flooring and which is supported in an opening manner
on the access flooring in a state connected to the access
flooring.
On a scaffolding, construction workers and/or craftsmen must
often change working level within the scaffolding in order to
carry out their work. This may be the case, for example, when
they have finished their work at one level and wish to
continue this work at an adjacent level. This may also be the
case when they have to leave their working level temporarily,
for example, in order to obtain additional building material.
Since ladders which are leant against the scaffolding
initially have to be newly orientated in the event of a
change of the working level and can further readily fall over,
a plurality of known scaffoldings have so-called access
floorings. These are working platforms which are securely
anchored in the scaffolding and on which the construction
workers and/or craftsmen can safely stand and work.
Furthermore, portions of those working platforms have access
floorings having an access opening. Workers can reach the
desired working level via the access openings by means of
ladders from a working level which is located above or below.
In order to prevent a worker and/or objects from being able
to inadvertently fall through an access opening and the
worker from injuring himself and/or other workers becoming
injured, access floorings are provided with an access door
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which is closed after use by the relevant worker. However,
workers may forget to close an access door. The personal
safety on building sites is greatly impaired by such open
access doors, which must be avoided.
EP2102431 B1 discloses an access flooring for a scaffolding
which has a flexible hatch type door which is constructed in
a self-closing manner in order to increase personal safety.
Unlike known access doors, the flexible hatch type door is
not in the form of a plate which is flexurally rigid in the
direction of the two plane axes thereof but instead comprises
a plate which can be deformed in a flexibly resilient manner
and which has individual reinforcement inserts. The
reinforcement inserts are spaced apart from each other and
are countersunk into the flexibly resilient material parallel
with each other so that the flexible plate has a plurality of
longitudinal segments which are connected to each other in a
flexibly resilient manner, that is to say, are articulated to
each other resiliently. When the door is completely folded
back (opened), complete and automatic closure of the flexible
door cannot - not least as a result of the inherent weight of
the longitudinal segments thereof - be safely ensured. As a
result of the constructive structure thereof, the flexible
door further has complex and difficult handling. For instance,
the door cannot be opened simply by pressing against any
surface portion at the lower side, but instead has to be
folded back extensively by means of pressure with a plurality
of body parts or a reaching arm movement in order to
completely release an access opening closed by the door for
the passage of an operator. Furthermore, the access flooring
is cost-intensive to produce and involves a risk to the
safety of users because damaged or even broken reinforcement
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inserts of the flexible door cannot be recognised or cannot
readily be recognised from the outer side.
US2007/0125601 Al discloses an access flooring, in which the
access flooring is connected to an access door via a
re.silient element. Details of the resilient element or the
opening limits of the access door are not described in
US2007/0125601 Al.
EP2080852 Al discloses an access flooring having an access
door, the opening angle of the access door being limited by
at least one tension rod. To this end, the tension rod has a
stop face which is positioned on a stop counter-face at the
maximum opening angle of the access door. The known access
flooring is constructed in a relatively complicated manner as
a result of the tension rod arrangement.
GB1,033,233 A discloses a hinge which can be pivoted at one
end through up to 3600.
EP1124030 A2 discloses a hinge for a car door, the hinge
comprising a bendable plate.
GB1,106,128 A further discloses a hinge for a swing door.
GE1,106,128 A teaches to construct the hinge in such a manner
that no resistance occurs when the swing door is opened.
FR2895429 Al discloses an access flooring. The access
flooring has an access door which is connected to the access
flooring by a conventional hinge. The opening movement of the
access door is limited by a stop.
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DE2939265 Al discloses a wall hatch. When the wall hatch is
opened, a resilient element of the wall hatch is uniformly
extended.
DE10208831 Al discloses an access flooring, a resilient hinge
which is not described in greater detail connecting the
access flooring to an access door.
DE202007011081 Ul discloses another access flooring which is
connected to an access door by means of a resilient hinge
which is not described in greater detail.
Finally, DE202008003128 Ul discloses an access flooring, in
which an access door is connected to the access flooring via
a hinge profile-member. The hinge profile-member allows an
opening angle of the access door of more than 90 .
Therefore, an object of the invention is to further increase
the personal safety on a scaffolding in connection with
access floorings and to further improve the handling of the
access door of such an access flooring.
This object is achieved in that, in a region in which the
access door is connected to the access flooring, there is
arranged at least one resiliently deformable element which
becomes deformed when the access door is opened and there is
produced by the deformation in the resiliently deformable
element a force (= restoring force) which is directed counter
to the opening movement of the access door. The. force which
is produced in the resilient element and which is directed
counter to the opening movement of the access door increases
according to the invention (during the opening of the door)
abruptly at an opening angle near a perpendicular position of
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the access door. That is to say, if the access door is
orientated almost perpendicularly relative to a horizontal
orientation, the (restoring) force which is applied by the
resilient element to the access door increases with respect
to the horizontal orientation of the access door at or from
the opening angle of the access door near the perpendicular
position thereof by a multiple, for example, by two-fold,
three-fold or by an even higher value, with respect to the
value of the restoring force which has been produced up to an
opening angle near the perpendicular position of the access
door. The force may increase in particular in a stepped
manner or in a substantially stepped manner in the region of
the opening angle of the access door near the perpendicular
position thereof. The characteristic line of the resiliently
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deformable element has in this case in the region of the
opening angle near the perpendicular position of the access
door a non-constant extent. An abrupt increase of the force
is also present when the force increases from the opening
angle of the access door near the perpendicular orientation
thereof, with further increasing opening angles of the access
door, continuously or exponentially with respect to the value
of the restoring force which has been produced up to the
opening angle near the perpendicular position of the access
door. In the last case mentioned, the resiliently deformable
element has a progressive characteristic line. This ensures
in a generally advantageous manner that the access door of
the access flooring closes automatically in a reliable and
rapid manner after opening, that is to say, when no more
external force (of an operator) acts on the access door. The
(defined/predetermined) opening angle near the perpendicular
position of the door is preferably between 75' and 87 , in
particular approximately 85 . The force produced in the
resiliently deformable element is preferably small up to the
opening angle of the access door near the perpendicular
position thereof. The access door is preferably constructed
in a flexurally rigid manner in the direction of the two
plane axes thereof, that is to say, in the direction of the
longitudinal axis and in the transverse axis thereof. That is
to say, the access door is constructed as a board or plate.
It will be understood that the board or plate may have a
multi-layered construction or a frame. It is thereby possible,
on the one hand, to visually identify in a simplified manner
possible damage to the access door, in particular a crack or
breakage of the access door. On the other hand, the access
door can be readily operated completely by an operator by
pressing against any lower-side surface portion in order to
completely release the access opening for the passage of the
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operator. Consequently, the use of an access flooring
according to the invention in a scaffolding increases the
personal safety substantially because active closure of the
access opening by persons is unnecessary and therefore also
cannot be forgotten. The danger that a construction worker
may fall through an open access opening of an access flooring
and become seriously injured is minimised or may be excluded
if the object according to the invention is not defective.
Safety provisions often require that the access openings in
access floorings automatically close after use. This is
readily complied with by the access flooring according to the
invention. The access door of the access flooring is
particularly simple and safe to handle.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterised
in that the region in which the access door is connected to
the access flooring extends over an edge side of the access
door. The substantially rectangular form of the access door
uses the available surface-area of the access flooring to the
best possible extent and makes it easier, in conjunction with
an access opening which is adapted to the access door, for a
person to climb through the access flooring. In accordance
with the arrangement of the at least one resiliently
deformable element, the access door can be opened either in
the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction
relative to the access flooring. Since the resiliently
deformable element extends only over an edge side of the
access door, the person climbing through the access flooring
has the greatest possible freedom of movement and is not
impeded by the resilient element during the climbing action.
In a preferred embodiment, the edge of the access opening has
an edge formation, in which the access door is inserted, and
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wherein the edge formation is constructed in such a manner
that the surface of the upper side of the access door forms
without any step a plane with the surface of the upper side
of the access flooring. Advantageously, when the door is
closed, a person cannot remain stuck with his foot or an
object to be transported on an edge of the access door and
consequently stumble or trip, which further increases the
personal safety of the access flooring according to the
invention. The edge formation of the access opening further
ensures that the inserted access door is carried by the edge
of the access opening of the access flooring along a portion
of the edge thereof. The inherent weight of the access door
in the closed state and optionally an additional weight force
of an object located on the access door or a person on the
access flooring is discharged and consequently the resilient
element is relieved in respect of those weight forces. An
embodiment which has the edge formation along the entire edge
of the access opening is particularly advantageous since the
weight force is transmitted to the access flooring in the
most uniform manner possible and the flexible element is no
longer loaded when the access door is closed.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one
resiliently deformable element is in the form of an elongate
profile-member of a flexibly resilient and/or visco-resilient
material. Elongate profile-members of a flexibly resilient
and/or visco-resilient material, such as, for example,
natural rubber or silicone rubber, can be produced in a cost-
effective manner in many different forms. Such profile-
members having a respective formulation can be kept for a
long time, are rust-resistant and resistant to weather
influences and UV radiation. On the basis of the material
used and the construction thereof, elongate profile-members
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of a flexibly resilient and/or visco-resilient material
involve a lower risk of injury owing to becoming jammed, for
example, in comparison with helical compression springs. In a
further advantageous manner, the resilient restoring force
can readily be adjusted by the material selection and/or the
cross-sectional shape of the elongate profile-member in the
event of the deformation thereof, and therefore the restoring
force of the access door in dependence of the opening angle
thereof.
In a development of the particularly preferred embodiment,
the elongate profile-member has a substantially rectangular
cross-section. Such a profile-member can readily be connected,
in various manners, both to the access door and to the access
flooring. For example, screw type and/or adhesive connections
are possible. Rectangular profile-members are available in a
very cost-effective manner with extremely different
dimensions as bar goods and can readily be adapted to access
openings with different dimensions simply by being cut.
In another particularly preferred embodiment of the access
flooring according to the invention, the elongate profile-
member has an at least partially V-like or W-like or zig-zag-
like or wave-like cross-section. Such a cross-section can
ensure that the force necessary for opening the access door
is small for opening angles until near a perpendicular
position of the access door, for example, less than or equal
to 80 degrees, and increases abruptly for larger opening
angles. The access door of such an access flooring can
. advantageously be opened with a very small force application
by a person climbing through, for example, simply by pressing
with his hand or head if the person is climbing upwards from
below through the access opening.
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According to the invention an additional resiliently
deformable element can make it easier to open an access door
in accordance with an auxiliary opening means if such an
element is compressed as a result of the inherent weight of
the access door when the access door is closed and discharges
that force stored in the resiliently defoimed element again
when the access door is opened and consequently the opening
of the access door is further facilitated. If the access door
is opened in a practically perpendicular manner, the
restoring force increases abruptly, which ensures rapid
closure of the access door. If elongate profile-members, in
particular with an at least partially zig-zag-like or wave-
like cross-section, are used, there may also be used to
produce those profile-members materials which have only a low
= level of resilience because, as a result of the use of such
cross-sections, the effective path length of the deformable
region and therefore the flexibility of the elongate profile-
member increases greatly in the transverse direction. However,
= the outer dimensions of the cross-section profile-member of
the resiliently deformable element which is used here
increase only slightly.
In a development, the access flooring according to the
invention is characterised in that the access door has, along
a portion of the edge thereof, a first groove in which the
elongate profile-member engages with a first part-region, and
in that the access flooring has, along a portion of the edge
of the access opening which is opposite the first groove
along the portion of the edge of the access door, a second
groove in which the elongate profile-member engages with a
second part-region, and wherein the elongate profile-member
is retained both in the first groove along the portion of the
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edge of the access door and in the second groove of the
access flooring along the portion of the edge of the access
opening. The use of a first groove along the portion of the
edge of the access door and a second groove along the portion
of the edge of the access opening ensures a very space-saving
arrangement of the elongate profile-member. The part-regions
of the elongate profile-member which engage in the first and
second groove completely disappear in the access door and the
access flooring. If the first and/or second groove is/are
arranged within a larger groove, additional part-regions of
the elongate profile-member which are not retained by the
access door or the access flooring can be received in the
larger groove, respectively. This results in an additional
space saving and the flexible element is further protected
from damage by the access door and/or the access flooring.
It is preferable for the elongate planar profile-member to be
secured in the first groove along the portion of the edge of
the access door and in the second groove of the access
flooring along the portion of the edge of the access opening
by rivets and/or by screws and/or by adhesive connections
and/or by undercuts. The elongate profile-member which is
secured both in the first groove and in the second groove
thus cannot inadvertently slip out of the first groove and/or
the second groove when the access door is opened. If the
profile-member is secured in the first groove and the second
groove by means of screw connections and/or rivet connections
and/or undercuts, it can rapidly be changed in the event of a
defect, for example, caused by a fatigue fracture.
A preferred development of the access flooring according to
the invention is characterised in that the elongate profile-
member is subjected to material deformation when the access
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door is opened, and in that one or more cavities are at least
partially formed in the region of the material deformation.
As a result of cavities in the region of the material
deformation, it is possible to influence the force required
to open the access door in accordance with the opening angle.
If a more rigid material is used to produce the elongate
profile-member, the cavities formed in the profile-member can
reduce the force required to open the access door. By the
number, form and position of the cavities being selected in a
suitable manner, for example, it is possible for only a
comparatively small force to have to be applied up to almost
perpendicular opening of the access door and the restoring
force to increase greatly only in the case of a perpendicular
position of the access door.
In a development of the last embodiment of the access
flooring mentioned, the at least one cavity is closed at
least partially in the direction of the longitudinal sides of
the elongate profile-member. By means of a cavity which is
closed in the direction of the longitudinal sides of the
elongate profile-member, dirt, for example, falling stones,
sand, mortar or dripping paint, is reliably prevented from
being introduced into the cavity and from being able to block
it, which could impair the function of the cavity of the
elongate profile-member when the access door is opened.
In another development of the access flooring according to
the invention, the at least one cavity is at least partially
formed by an indentation which extends in the longitudinal
direction of the elongate profile-member in the surface of a
longitudinal side. As a result of indentations which extend
in the longitudinal direction of the elongate profile-member,
for example, in the form of notches on a lower side of the
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elongate profile-member, it is possible to reduce the
application of force necessary to deform the profile-member
and consequently to open the access door. In contrast to
cavities which are completely or partially closed in the
longitudinal direction, it is also possible to bring about
indentations at the surface of the profile-member after the
production thereof with relatively little complexity.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the region in which
the access door is connected to the access flooring has a
flexible cover, which covers the at least one resiliently
deformable element. As a result of such a flexible cover,
both the resiliently deformable element itself and the
connection region between the access door and the access
flooring are optimally protected from occurrences of
contamination which make it more difficult or impossible to
open the access door, or which can damage the hinge of the
access door. For example, a hand or a foot of a person in the
vicinity of the door is also prevented from becoming jammed,
which further improves the safety of the access flooring.
Additional advantages of the invention will be appreciated
from the description and the drawings. The features set out
above and those set out below may also be used according to
the invention individually per se or together in any
combination. The embodiments shown and described are not
intended to be understood to be a conclusive listing but are
instead of exemplary character for describing the invention.
The invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained
in greater detail with reference to embodiments.
In the drawings:
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Figure 1 is a perspective view of an access flooring
according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the access flooring
from Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-section of Figure 2 in the plane of
section indicated in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an illustration as in Figure 3, but with the
access opening open;
Figure 5 is a cross-section of an elongate profile-member
with a partially V-like cross-section;
Figure 6 is a cross-section of an elongate profile-member
with a partially W-like cross-section;
Figure 7 shows the securing of an elongate profile-member by
means of screw connections and undercuts in grooves of the
access flooring and the access door;
Figure 8 shows the securing of an elongate profile-member by
means of rivets in grooves of the access flooring and the
access door;
Figure 9 shows the securing of an elongate profile-member
which is inserted in recesses of the access flooring and the
access door by means of screw connections;
Figure 10 shows a flexible connection of the access door with
respect to the access flooring by means of hinges;
Figure 11 is a cross-section of an elongate profile-member
with notches on the lower side thereof;
Figure 12 is a cross-section of an elongate profile-member
with cavities at the inner side in the longitudinal direction;
Figure 13 shows a flexible cover of an elongate profile-
member with the access door closed;
Figure 14 shows the flexible cover as in Figure 15, but with
the access door open;
Figure 15 is a cross-section of a portion of an access
flooring, with two resilient elements being arranged in the
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region in which the access flooring is connected to the
access door.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an access flooring 10 which
is used, for example, in a scaffolding and which is also
referred to using the terms "scaffolding platform" or "access
board". At the side illustrated on the left in Figure 1, the
access flooring 10 has an access opening 12 which can be
closed with an access door 14 which is supported on the
access flooring 10. The edge 16 of the access opening 12 is
constructed by a recess which is open in the direction of the
access opening 12 and the access door 14 in such a manner
that, when the access door 14 is closed, it is positioned on
the access flooring 10 along the edge thereof and the upper
edges of the access door 14 are located at the same height as
= the upper edges of the access flooring 10. In the event that
the access opening 12 is closed, consequently, there is not
produced an edge at the transition between the access door 14
and access flooring 10. A person who is accessing the access
= flooring 10 or who is rolling or pushing an object over the
access flooring 10 is therefore not at risk of becoming stuck,
stumbling or tripping on such an edge. The access door 14
illustrated in Figure 1 has a rectangular form. The access
door 14 is connected to the access flooring 10 along one of
the longitudinal sides thereof in a region 18 so as to be
able to be opened. The connection of the access door 14 to
the access flooring 10 is brought about by a resiliently
deformable element 20 which extends over the entire
longitudinal side of the access door 14. The resilient
element 20 is an elongate profile-member 22 having a
rectangular cross-section.
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Alternatively to Figure 1, a plurality of resilient elements
of a different construction type may also be arranged in the
region 18. Where applicable, the resilient deformable
elements may be arranged with spacing from each other in the
region 18. In addition to the elongate profile-member 22, the
access door 14 is connected to the access flooring 10 by
hinges (not illustrated in Figure 1). In addition to hinges,
any types of rotary articulations may also be used. In an
embodiment, the resiliently deformable element may also
further take over a hinging function. In order to allow
simple opening of the access door 14 by means of an opening
movement 24, a gripping opening 26 is fitted to the side of
the access door 14 opposite the resilient element 20. In
place of the gripping through-opening 26, which is
illustrated in Figure 1, the access door 14 may also have a
recessed grip or a retention strap at the upper side and/or
lower side.
Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the access flooring 10.
The elongate profile-member 22 in the region 18 is arranged
in such a manner that it is possible to open the access door
14 transversely relative to the longitudinal side of the
access flooring 10. The flexible connection by means of the
elongate profile-member 22 may also be brought about at one
of the other sides of the access door 14 (this is the case in
any embodiment) so that it can be opened, for example, in the
longitudinal direction relative to the access flooring 10.
The access flooring 10 is illustrated in Figure 2 with a
closed access door 14. As a result of the formation of the
edge 16, which formation is indicated in Figure 1 and extends
continuously over the entire edge 16 of the access opening 12
of the access flooring 10, the access door 14 is securely
retained by the access flooring 10. Occurrences of weight
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forces of the closed access door 14 and, where applicable,
objects or persons located thereon are discharged by the
peripheral formation to the access flooring 10 as uniformly
as possible.
Figure 3 is a cross-section of Figure 2 in the plane of
section indicated in
Figure 2 with the access opening
12 closed. The access door 14 is flexibly connected to the
access flooring 10 by the resilient element 20. It can
readily be seen in the cross-section in Figure 3 that the
resiliently deformable element 20 is in the form of an
elongate profile-member 22 having a rectangular cross-section.
In order to ensure a safe and strong connection between the
elongate profile-member 22 and the access door 14 and the
elongate profile-member 22 and the access flooring 10, the
elongate profile-member 22 engages with a first part-region
in a first groove 28 of the access door 14. The access
flooring 10 has a second groove 30 which is opposite the
first groove 28 when the access door 14 is closed and in
which the elongate profile-member 22 engages with a second
part-region. The elongate profile-member 22 is secured both
in the first groove 28 and in the second groove 30 by a
planar bonded joint. It can clearly be seen in Figure 3 that
the access door 14 is inserted in the formation 32 of the
edge 16 of the access opening 12 and both the upper edge of
the access door 14 and the upper edge of the access flooring
are at the same level. The access flooring 10 according to
the invention is illustrated in Figure 3 in a simplified
manner and not true to scale. In particular, the gaps which
are illustrated on the right and left in Figure 3 between the
access door 14 and the access flooring 10 and which ensure
friction-free opening and closing of the access door 14 have
in reality a substantially smaller gap dimension.
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The access flooring 10 may further have a ladder (not
illustrated) which is secured during transport and storage of
the access flooring 10 under the access door 14 and the floor
of the access flooring 10 in a releasable and/or pivotable
manner. After the access flooring 10 has been fitted in a
scaffolding, the ladder can be folded out from the access
flooring 10 in order to reach the access flooring 10 from a
flooring underneath.
The illustration in Figure 4 corresponds to the illustration
set out in Figure 3, but the access door 14 is pivoted open
and the access opening 12 can be passed through by a person,
for example, a construction worker. Since the elongate
profile-member 22 is secured both in the first groove 28 of
the access door 14 and in the second groove 30 of the access
flooring 10, a material deformation is produced in a region
34 of the elongate profile-member 22 when the access door 14
is pivoted open. The material deformation may be present in
some part-regions of the elongate profile-member 22 as a
positive extension (expansion) and in other part-regions as a
negative extension (compression). In Figure 4, an extension
is produced in the region 34 at the lower side of the
elongate profile-member 22 and a compression is produced at
the upper side. In order to bring about a material
deformation in the elongate profile-member 22, a
corresponding force has to be applied in the opening
direction 24 when the access door is opened. Since the
elongate profile-member 22 has resilient properties, the
material again attempts to.take up its original form after
the force is no longer applied or after the deformation has
been carried out. The force which this produces and which is
directed counter to the opening direction 24 is used to
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automatically close the open access opening 12. The
resiliently deformable element 20 is constructed in such a
manner that the force which is produced by the deformation of
the resiliently deformable element 20 and which is directed
counter to the opening movement of the access door 14
increases abruptly from an opening angle a near a
perpendicular position of the access door 14. In this
instance, the opening angle a is approximately 85 but may
also be greater than or less than 85 .
Figure 5 is the cross-section of a partially V-like elongate
profile-member 40 which is retained in a first groove 42 of
an access door 44 and a second groove 46 of an access
=flooring 48. The edge region of the access door 44 is
positioned on the access flooring =48 if the access door 44 is
closed. By the access door 44 being opened, the elongate
profile-member 40 becomes deformed and attempts, as a result
of the resilience thereof, to again take up its original form.
There is produced a restoring force which closes the access
door 44 if it is not retained in the opened position thereof
with a retention force being applied. As a result of the
partially V-like cross-section of the profile-member 40, the
restoring force occurring has a different dependency with
respect to the opening angle of the access door 44 than would
be the case in an elongate profile-member having a
rectangular cross-section in that the opening angle a of the
access door is defined even more precisely near the
perpendicular position thereof, from which the restoring
force of the resiliently deformable element increases
abruptly with the access door 44 being opened to an
increasing extent. During opening in the range of small
opening angles, the two members of the V-like portion of the
profile-member 40 initially move towards each other. Since
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the profile-member 40 in the region of the V-like member has
a substantially smaller thickness than in the horizontally
extending region, only a small force is initially required
therefor. From a specific opening angle, however, the two
members strike each other and a substantially greater force
must be applied in order also to deform the horizontally
extending regions of the profile-member 40 and thus to open
the access door 44 even further (greater opening angle).
Therefore, the access door 44 can be opened by a small
application of force only up to a given angle a. If this
angle is exceeded, the force required for further opening
increases substantially (for example, in a super-proportional
manner or exponentially).
The elongate profile-member 50 in Figure 6 has a
=substantially W-like cross-section instead of a V-like cross-
section and is retained in a first groove 52 of an access
= door 54 and a second groove 56 of an access flooring 58. The
angle from which the force required for further opening the
=access door 54 increases substantially is thereby displaced
in comparison with Figure 5 in the direction of greater
values. By the cross-section being configured correspondingly
and/or by additional V-like regions being fitted, it is
possible for the opening angle a, from which the required
force increases substantially, to be in a range near 90
degrees.
Figure 7 illustrates a first possibility for securing the
resilient element in cross-section. The resiliently
deformable element is in the form of an elongate profile-
member 80. The profile-member 80 engages with a first part-
region in a first groove 82 of an access flooring 84 and is
retained in the groove 82 by means of screws 86 which can be
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countersunk in the access flooring 84. A second part-region
of the elongate profile-member 80, which region is opposite
the first part-region, has a T-like cross-section, which acts
as an undercut 88, and engages in a correspondingly formed
groove 90 of the access door 92 in the transverse direction
relative to the elongate profile-member 80 in a positive-
locking manner. In order to prevent the elongate profile-
member 80 from sliding out of the groove 90 of the access
door 92, the profile-member 80 may further be secured in the
groove 90 by a bonded joint.
Figure 8 is a cross-section of a permanent securing of an
elongate profile-member 94 with respect to an access flooring
100 and an access door 98 by means of rivets 96. As in other
embodiments shown, the elongate profile can also take over
the hinge function. For fixing, the profile-member 94 engages
with a first part-region in a first groove 102 of the access
door 98 and with a second part-region in a second groove 104
of the access flooring 100. The profile-member 94 is provided
both in the first and in the second part-region with
apertures, for example, holes or circular punched portions.
The access flooring 100 and the access door 98 have holes
which are aligned with the corresponding apertures of the
profile-member 94. The first part-region which is inserted
into the first groove 102 is now retained on the access door
98 by means of rivets 96 which extend through the holes of
the access door 98 and the apertures in the first part-region
of the profile-member. The second part-region of the profile-
member 94 is retained on the access flooring 100 in a
corresponding manner. In addition to solid rivets, hollow
rivets or blind rivets are also suitable for fixing.
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A possibility for connecring an access flooring 106 to an ,
access door 108 by means of an elongate profile-member 110
having a rectangular cross-section is illustrated in Figure 9.
Both the edge of the access flooring 106 along the access
opening and the edge of the access door 108 have at the upper
side thereof recesses 112, 114 each having a rectangular
cross-section. The elongate profile-member 110 is inserted
with a part-region in the recesses 112, 114. The depth of the
recesses is selected in such a manner that the upper edge of
the profile-member 110 terminates in a flush manner with the
upper edge of the access door 108 and with the upper edge of
the access flooring 106 or the upper edge of the profile-
member 110 is located in a lower position in comparison with
the upper edge of the access door 108 and the upper edge of
the access flooring 106. The elongate profile-member 110 is
securely connected by means of screw type connections 116
with a part-region to the access flooring 106 and the access
door 108. In accordance with the material used for the access
flooring 106 and the access door 108, there are used screws
which have a normal thread or which have a self-tapping
thread. As a result of the arrangement of the elongate
profile-member 110, the gap 118 which exists between the
access flooring 106 and the access door 108 is completely
covered. Dirt or small objects are reliably prevented from
being introduced into the gap. A person is also prevented
from inadvertently becoming injured by being jammed in the
gap 118 when the access door 108 is opened.
Figure 10 is a cross-section of an access flooring 120
according to the invention. In addition to an elongate
profile-member 124 having a double-T-like cross-section, a
hinge 126 which is recessed at the upper side of the access
flooring 120 and the access door 122 is used for the flexible
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connection between the access flooring 120 and the access
door 122. In this embodiment, the weight force of the opened
access door 122 is transmitted by the hinge 126 to the access
flooring 120. The elongate profile-member 124 is retained by
means of two undercuts 128 both in a first groove 130 of the
access flooring 120 and in a second groove 132 of the access
door 122. Both the arrangement of the hinge 126 and the
formation of the illustrated cross-section 134 of the access
flooring 120 and the corresponding formation of the
illustrated cross-section 136 of the access door 122 reliably
prevent dirt from being introduced into the region 138, in
which the elongate profile-member 124 is located. Inadvertent
jamming when the access door 122 is opened is also prevented.
As illustrated in Figure 11 and Figure 12, there may be used
to influence the restoring force an elongate profile-member
140; 148 which is flexibly connected to an access door 142;
150 and an access flooring 144; 152 and which has a plurality
of cavities 146; 154. The cavities 146; 154 are preferably
arranged in a region in which a material deformation occurs
when the access door 142; 150 is opened. In Figure 11, the
cavities 146 are in the form of open V-like notches at the
upper side of the elongate profile-member 140. The notches
extend at the upper sid substantially centrally in the
longitudinal direction of the profile-member 140 and ensure
that, when the access door 142 is opened, the region in which
the greatest material elongation of the profile-member 140
would otherwise occur is relieved. Therefore, the access door
142 can be opened with a smaller application of force and a
premature material fatigue as a result of excessively
powerful elongation of the elongate profile-member 140 is
prevented.
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In a similar manner, as illustrated in Figure 12, an elongate
profile-member 148 may be perforated by cavities 154 which
extend in the direction of the longitudinal sides of the
profile-member 148 completely into the interior thereof. In
Figure 12, the cavities 154 have a circular cross-section and
are arranged in a region of the profile-member 148 which is
compressed when the access door 150 is opened. The occurring
restoring force is thereby reduced in the range of small
opening angles of the access door 150. Irrespective of the
cavities 154 which are shown in the embodiment, those
cavities in other embodiments may also have other cross-
sectional shapes, such as a triangular shape.
As shown in Figure 13, a flexible cover 164 may be arranged
above the elongate profile-member 156 in order to protect an
elongate profile-member. 156 which is connected to an access
door 162 and an access flooring 160. The flexible cover 164
is secured both to the access flooring 160 and to the access
door 162 and consequently also protects the connection region
158 which is between the access flooring 160 and the access
door 162. The flexible cover 164 is ideally dust-tight and
fluid-tight and comprises a very resilient, flexible material
which is not sensitive to environmental influences, such as,
for example, a plastics film. Dust which occurs, for example,
during grinding work on a facade, consequently cannot clog
the connection region 158 and thereby impair the function of
the elongate profile-member 156. The securing of the cover
164 can advantageously be carried out with the same
connection elements which also connect the elongate profile-
member 156 to the access flooring 160 and the access door 162.
In Figure 15, screws 166 which extend through both the
flexible cover 164 and the elongate profile-member 156 were
used for this purpose.
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Figure 14 shows that the flexible cover 164 is compressed
when the access door 162 is opened. If a material having a
very high level of flexibility is used for the flexible cover
164, it influences the restoring force produced by the
elongate profile-member 156 only to an insignificant degree.
The cover 164 may also be configured in such a manner that
the restoring force produced by the elongate profile-member
156 cooperates with a restoring force which is produced by
the cover 164. The cover 164 acts counter to an undesirable
introduction of contamination, such as, for example, stones
or material chips, into the gap formed between the access
door 162 and the access flooring 160.
Figure 15 is a cross-section of a region in which an access
door 172 is connected to an access flooring 174. The
connection between the access door 172 and the access
flooring 174 is produced by a stable band 168 which is
recessed both into the access door 172 and into the access
flooring 174 and which is secured by means of rivets 170. The
band may comprise a textile, an elastomer material or a
different, suitable material. In the gap between the access
flooring 174 and the access door 172, there are arranged
above the material band 168 a first resiliently deformable
element 176 and below the material band 168 a second
resiliently deformable element 178. In this instance, the
first resiliently deformable element 176 fills only a portion
of the gap region and comprises a flexible and poorly
resilient material. The second resiliently deformable element
178 comprises a powerfully resilient and soft material. The
second resiliently deformable element 178 is already
compressed when the access door 172 is closed, that is to say,
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it is pressed in the gap. As a result of the compression
thereof, the second resiliently deformable element 178
applies a force to the access door 172 which acts in the
direction of an opening movement and consequently reduces the
force application which is required to open the access door
172. The first resiliently deformable element 176 is pressed
in the gap only at the above-explained opening angle a (net
shown) near the access door 172 which is opened almost
perpendicularly. As a result of the compression, there is
produced a force which is directed counter to the opening
movement of the access door 172 and which always presses the
access door 172 automatically into a closed position. The two
resiliently deformable elements 176, 178 act counter to
introduction of contamination, such as, for example, stones
or material chips, into the gap formed between the access
door 172 and the access flooring 174.
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List of reference numerals
Figure 1 to Figure 4
Access flooring
12 Access opening
14 Access door
16 Edge of access opening
18 Region in which the .access door is connected to the access
flooring
Resilient element
22 Elongate profile
24 Opening movement of access door
26 Gripping opening
28 First groove of access door
Second groove of access opening
32 Formation of the edge of the access opening
34 Region Of a material deformation of the elongate profile-
member
a Opening angle,
Figure 5
Elongate profile-member with V-like cross-section
42 Groove of the access door
44 Access door
46 Groove of the access flooring
48 Access flooring
Figure 6
Elongate profile-member with W-like cross-section
52 GrooVe of the access door
54 Access door
56 Groove of the access flooring
58 Access flooring
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Figure 7
80 Elongate profile-member
82 Groove of the access flooring
84 Access flooring
86 Countersunk screws
88 Undercut
90 Groove of the access door
92 Access door
Figure 8
94 Elongate profile-member
96 Rivets
98 Access door
100 Access flooring
102 Groove of the access door
104 Groove of the access flooring
Figure 9
=
106 Access flooring
108 Access door
110 Elongate profile-member
112 Recess at the upper side of the access flooring
114 Recess at the upper side of the access door
116 Screw type connections
118 Gap
Figure 10
120 Access flooring
122 Access door
124 Elongate profile-member
126 Hinge
128 Undercuts
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130 Groove of the access flooring
132 Groove of the access door
134 Formation of the cross-section of the access flooring
136 Formation of the cross-section of the access door
138 Region between access door and access flooring
Figure 11
140 Elongate profile-member
142 Access door
144 Access flooring
146 Cavities
Figure 12
148 Elongate profile-member
150 Access door
152 Access flooring
=
154 Cavities
Figure 13 and Figure 14
156 Elongate profile-member=
158 Connection region between access door and access flooring
160 Access flooring
162 Access door
164 Flexible cover
166 Screws
Figure 15
168 Stable material band
170 Rivets
172 Access door .
174 Access flooring
176 First resiliently deformable element
178 Second resiliently deformable element
