Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ACCESS SYSTEM FOR ELEVATED LOAD SUPPORT STRUCTURES
This disclosure relates to the field of transport vehicles and in particular a
system
providing access for a person to elevated load support structures such as van
bodies and
flat decks.
BACKGROUND
Load support structures such as van bodies and flat decks mounted on trailers
or truck
frames have a floor that is typically about 48 inches above the ground. A rear
impact
guard beam is generally required by transportation authorities, and is mounted
at the rear
of the structure about 24 inches off the ground as a safety measure to prevent
the front
end of a car from passing under the trailer floor if same were to crash into
the van from
the rear.
The high floor makes it difficult for a person to access the van body as the
rear impact
guard beam is quite high to step on and there is typically nothing for a
person to grab to
pull themselves up to the floor. Various access aids are disclosed in the
prior art, for
example as described in United States Patent Numbers 8,720,924 to Ruehl,
9,156,405 to
Levesque, 7,025,174 to Hawley, and 6,321,873 to Labrash, as well as in United
States
Published Patent Application Numbers 2002/0189903 of Krish, Jr. and
2002/000340 of
Hallquist.
Where the prior art discloses hand holds to assist in climbing the steps
provided the
handholds extend above the floor generally in the rear of the structure where
same
obstruct movement of goods into or out of the door of a van body or onto a
flat deck.
Van bodies commonly include cargo securement systems comprising securement
rails
with securing holes spaced therealong and fastened to the walls and/or floor
of the van
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body. Cargo restraining straps, beams, or the like are engaged in the holes to
prevent
cargo from shifting during transport. Such cargo restraining systems are
disclosed for
example in United States Patent Numbers 5,733,082 to Schrader, 5,516,245, and
5,370,482 to Long. The rails are mounted vertically or horizontally on the
walls, and
lengthwise or across the floor depending on the configuration of the
particular cargos
contemplated. Flat deck load support structures commonly include stake pockets
spaced
around the periphery of the deck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure provides an access system for elevated load support
structures
mounted on vehicle frames that overcomes problems in the prior art.
In a first embodiment the present disclosure provides an access system for a
load support
structure mounted on a vehicle frame where the vehicle frame comprises a rear
impact
guard beam mounted under a rear edge of a floor of the load support structure
The
system comprises a foot aid comprising a plurality of steps mounted on a step
frame, the
step frame adapted to be pivotally attached to the rear impact guard beam
under the rear
edge of the floor adjacent to a selected one of the right and left side edges
of the floor and
configured such that when pivotally attached to the rear impact guard beam the
step
frame is movable from an operating position where stepping surfaces of the
steps are
oriented substantially horizontally, to a stored position where stepping
surfaces of the
steps are oriented substantially vertically. A hand aid comprises a flexible
tether adapted
for attachment to the load support structure adjacent to the selected one of
the right and
left side edges of the floor and configured such that when attached to the
load support
structure, the flexible tether is within reach of a person standing on a
ground surface
adjacent to the foot aid.
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In a second embodiment the present disclosure provides a van body access
system
comprising an elevated van body mounted on a vehicle frame, the vehicle frame
comprising a rear impact guard beam mounted under a rear end of a floor of the
van
body. The van body comprises a plurality of securement rails attached to right
and left
interior walls thereof adjacent to a rear door of the van body, the securement
rails
defining a plurality of securing holes spaced along a length of the securement
rails. A
foot aid comprises a plurality of steps mounted on a step frame, the step
frame pivotally
attached to the rear impact guard beam under the rear door adjacent to a
selected one of
the right and left interior walls of the van body and configured such that the
step frame is
movable from an operating position where stepping surfaces of the steps are
oriented
substantially horizontally, to a stored position where stepping surfaces of
the steps are
oriented substantially vertically. A hand aid comprises a flexible tether
releasably
attached to at least one securement rail on the selected one of the right and
left interior
walls and configured such that when attached to the selected one of the right
and left
interior walls, the flexible tether is within reach of a person standing on a
ground surface
adjacent to the foot aid.
The disclosed access system provides both hand and foot aids to facilitate
entrance into
the van body without obstructing the door, or onto a flat deck without
obstructing the rear
end thereof, so goods can freely be moved in and out. The foot aid is located
so that the
risk of damage from contact with obstructions rearward of the rear impact
guard beam is
reduced.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred
embodiments
are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
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Fig. 1 is a schematic cut away side view of an embodiment of the access system
of the
present disclosure mounted to a load support structure provided by a van body;
Fig. 2 is a schematic rear view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a schematic front face view of a securement rail for use with the
embodiment
of Fig. 1, and a flexible tether with a hook on one end that is configured to
engage a
securing hole in the securement rail;
Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the foot aid of the embodiment of Fig. 1
pivotally
attached to the rear impact guard beam and in the stored position;
Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of the foot aid of the embodiment of Fig. 1
pivotally
attached to the rear impact guard beam and in the operating position;
Fig. 6 is a schematic rear view of the foot aid of the embodiment of Fig. 1
pivotally
attached to the rear impact guard beam and in the operating position;
Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of an alternate foot aid for use with the
system of Fig. 1
pivotally attached to the rear impact guard beam and in the stored position;
Fig. 8 is a schematic side view of the alternate foot aid of Fig. 7 pivotally
attached to
the rear impact guard beam and in the operating position;
Fig. 9 is a schematic front face view of the hand aid of the embodiment of
Fig. 1 where
the flexible tether includes a hook on each end, and each hook releasably
engaged a
securing hole in the securement rail such that the flexible tether forms a
loop;
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Fig. 10 is a schematic front face view of an alternate hand aid for use with
the system
of Fig. 1 where the flexible tether includes a hook on one end releasably
engaged a
securing hole in the securement rail, and where the opposite end of the tether
forms a
loop;
Fig. 11 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the access system of the
present
disclosure mounted to a load support structure provided by a flat deck;
Fig. 12 is a schematic top view of the embodiment of Fig. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Figs. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an embodiment of a access system 1 of
the present
disclosure for a load support structure, illustrated as an elevated van body
3, mounted on
a vehicle frame 5. The vehicle frame 5 comprises a rear impact guard beam 7
mounted
under a rear edge of a floor 9 of the van body 3.
The illustrated van body 3 is conventional with right and left interior walls
13R, 13L
extending along corresponding side edges of the floor 9 and a rear double door
15 at a
rear edge of the floor 9. The van body 3 comprises a plurality of securement
rails 11
attached to the right and left interior walls 13R, 13L adjacent to the rear
double door 15,
and the securement rails 11 define a plurality of securing holes 17 spaced
along a length
of the securement rails 11 as seen in Fig. 3. Such securement rails 11 are
well known in
the art for securing cargo from shifting during transports by attaching
restraining straps,
beams, or the like in the securing holes.
These securement rails 11 can be attached to the walls 13 in a vertical or
horizontal
orientation. Typically a vertical securement rail 11 is attached near the rear
door and
further vertical rails 11 are spaced along the walls 13 from the rear end to
the front end of
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the walls 13 as in the illustrated van body 3. Horizontal rails are not
illustrated but
typically extend from near the rear of the walls 13 to near the front thereof
and are spaced
between the floor 9 and the top of the walls 13.
The system 1 comprises a foot aid 19 comprising a plurality of steps 21
mounted on a
step frame 23. The step frame 23 is adapted to be pivotally attached about a
step pivot
axis SA to the rear impact guard beam 7 under the rear door 15 adjacent to a
selected one
of the right and left interior walls 13R, 13L of the van body 3. In the
illustrated system
the step frame 23 is shown pivotally attached adjacent to the right interior
wall 13R. The
step frame 23 is configured such that when pivotally attached to the rear
impact guard
beam 7, the step frame 23 is movable from an operating position shown in Fig.
5 where
stepping surfaces of the steps 21 are oriented substantially horizontally and
the steps 21
extend rearward from the rear impact guard beam 7, to a stored position shown
in Fig. 4
where stepping surfaces of the steps 21 are oriented substantially vertically.
The system 1 further comprises a hand aid 27 comprising a flexible tether 29
adapted for
releasable attachment to the selected one of the right and left interior walls
13, here
illustrated as the right wall 13R, and configured such that when attached to
the wall 13R,
the flexible tether 29 is within reach of a person 31 standing on a ground
surface 33
adjacent to the foot aid 19. The hand aid 27 then simply hangs against the
wall 13R
where same is accessible when required, and where same does not obstruct
movement of
goods through the door 15.
The foot aid 19 comprises a top step 21A and a bottom step 21B. The steps 21
extend
rearward from the rear impact guard beam 7 when pivotally attached to the rear
impact
guard beam 7 and in the operating position of Fig. 5, and extend upward from
the rear
impact guard beam 7 when in the stored position of Fig. 4.
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In the illustrated foot aid 19, the step pivot axis SA is oriented
substantially horizontally
and perpendicular to an operating travel direction T of the vehicle frame 5
and
substantially aligned with or forward of a front face 7F of the rear impact
guard beam 7
such that the bottom edge 23B of the step frame 23 is substantially vertical
and aligned
with or forward of the front face 7F of the rear impact guard beam 7 and a
forward
portion 23BF of the bottom edge 23B bears against the front face 7F when the
step frame
23 is pivotally attached to the rear impact guard beam 7 and in the stored
position. The
bottom edge 23B of the step frame 23 rests on a top face 7T of the rear impact
guard
beam 7 when the step frame 23 is pivotally attached to the rear impact guard
beam 7 and
in the operating position.
Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a rear view of the foot aid 19 pivotally
attached to the rear
impact guard beam 7 by a pivot rod 35 that is attached to the rear impact
guard beam 7 by
clamps 37.
The configuration of the foot aid 19 shown in Figs. 4-6 locates the entire
foot aid forward
of the rear impact guard beam 7 where same is protected from damage. An
alternate
arrangement of the foot aid 19' is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 where the bottom
edge 23B' of
the step frame 23' comprises a forward bottom edge portion 23BF' that is
vertical and
aligned with or forward of the front face 7F' of the rear impact guard beam 7'
when the
step frame 23' is in the stored position, and a rearward bottom edge portion
23BR' that is
vertical and aligned with a centerline CL of the top face 7T' of the rear
impact guard
beam 7' when the step frame 23' is in the stored position shown in Fig. 7.
When the step
frame 23' is in the stored position, the bottom edge 43' of the foot aid 19'
is coincidental
with or forward of the centerline CL of the rear impact guard beam 7' where
same is less
likely to contact any obstacle rearward of the rear impact guard beam 7'.
As seen in Fig. 8 the rearward bottom edge portion 23BR' of the step frame 23'
is in a
somewhat lower position relative to the ground when in the operating position
such that
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the bottom step 21B, the bottom of which is aligned with the rearward bottom
edge
portion 23BR', is easier to step onto.
This alternate foot aid 19' provides a somewhat lower bottom step 21B to
facilitate
access however the bottom step 21B' is also closer to the rear face 7R' of the
rear impact
guard beam 7' and so is somewhat more susceptible to damage. It is well known
in the
industry that vehicle with vans such are illustrated commonly back into
loading docks
and like areas where the rear impact guard beam 7' contacts loading dock walls
and the
like. It is preferred to keep the mechanisms of the foot aid 19, 19' as far
forward as
possible to avoid contact with obstacles and still provide an accessible
bottom step 21B,
210. In any event the bottom side 43, 43' of the foot aid 19, 19' is above a
bottom face
7B, 7B' of the rear impact guard beam 7, 7' when the step frame 23, 23' is
pivotally
attached to the rear impact guard beam and in the operating position.
It is contemplated that the flexible tether could simply be permanently
attached to the
interior wall 13, however conveniently the hand aid 27 comprises a hook 39
attached to a
first end of the flexible tether 29 as schematically illustrated in Fig. 3
where the hook 39
is configured to releasably engage a selected one of the securing holes 17.
Fig. 9
schematically illustrates a hand aid 27 where a second end of the flexible
tether 29 forms
a loop 41 configured and located within reach of the person standing on the
ground
surface adjacent to the foot aid as seen in Fig. 1.
Alternatively Fig. 10 schematically illustrates an alternate hand aid 27'
where a first hook
39A' is attached to the first end of the flexible tether 29'and a second hook
39B' is
attached to a second end of the flexible tether 29'. The first and second
hooks 39' are
configured to engage corresponding selected securing holes 17A', 17B', and the
tether 29'
is configured such that when the first and second hooks 39' are engaged in the
securing
holes 17', the tether 29' forms a loop 41' within reach of the person standing
on the
ground surface adjacent to the foot aid as seen in Fig. 1.
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It is contemplated that when the securement rails are oriented horizontally
and spaced
between the floor 9 and the top of the walls 13 that one or more securement
holes 17 will
be in in a location suitable for attachment of the hooks 17.
Figs. 10 and 11 schematically illustrate an access system 101 installed on a
load support
structure provided by a flat deck 103. The foot aid 119 is pivotally attached
to the rear
impact guard beam 107 the same as illustrated for the van body 3, and the hand
aid 127 is
attached to the flat deck 103 adjacent to the selected one of the right and
left side edges
109R, 109L of the floor 109 above the foot aid 119. The illustrated flat deck
103
comprising a plurality of stake pockets 117 defined in edges of the flat deck,
and wherein
the hand aid 127 comprises a 139 hook attached to one end of the flexible
tether 129.
The hook 139 is configured to releas ably engage a selected one of the stake
pockets 117.
The present disclosure provides an convenient access system 1 for a load
support
structure such as an elevated van body 3 that facilitates entrance into the
structure while
keeping the rear end of the support structure unobstructed so goods can be
moved freely
in and out through a van body door or on and off a flat deck. The foot aid 19
of the
system 1 is located so that the risk of damage from contact with obstructions
rearward of
the rear impact guard beam 7 is reduced.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation
shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or
modifications in
structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within
the scope of
the claimed invention.
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