EP0051087A1 - Echelle de corde à échelons d'élastomère dur moulés et procédé pour son assemblage - Google Patents

Echelle de corde à échelons d'élastomère dur moulés et procédé pour son assemblage Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0051087A1
EP0051087A1 EP80106816A EP80106816A EP0051087A1 EP 0051087 A1 EP0051087 A1 EP 0051087A1 EP 80106816 A EP80106816 A EP 80106816A EP 80106816 A EP80106816 A EP 80106816A EP 0051087 A1 EP0051087 A1 EP 0051087A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wedge
opening
collar
ropes
heart
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP80106816A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0051087B1 (fr
Inventor
Robert Mario Salvarezza
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to DE8080106816T priority Critical patent/DE3070078D1/de
Priority to EP19800106816 priority patent/EP0051087B1/fr
Publication of EP0051087A1 publication Critical patent/EP0051087A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0051087B1 publication Critical patent/EP0051087B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06C—LADDERS
    • E06C7/00—Component parts, supporting parts, or accessories
    • E06C7/08—Special construction of longitudinal members, or rungs or other treads
    • E06C7/081—Rungs or other treads comprising anti-slip features
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06C—LADDERS
    • E06C1/00—Ladders in general
    • E06C1/52—Ladders in general with non-rigid longitudinal members
    • E06C1/56—Rope or chain ladders

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an improved rope ladder and to a novel step therefore, as well as to assembly of the ladder
  • Rope ladders which are especially useful as pilot's ladders by which a local pilot boards or leaves a ship, have heretofore been made with wooden or metal steps.
  • the present invention incorporates a molded elastomer step of hard rubber-like material.
  • the rope ladder of the present invention is simpler to make and to assemble than were previous wooden-step ladders, and the invention lends itself to a novel form of assembly that also places elongating force on the rope and secures the rope more securely as a result.
  • the rope ladder of this invention has a series of molded, one-piece ladder steps, each with an upper surface and a lower surface, two longitudinal edges and two end edges, and each step has two spaced-apart vertical through openings, one spaced in from each transverse edge. These steps are used with two spaced-apart pairs of ropes, each pair of ropes passing through one through opening of each step.
  • Each step is molded from hard elastomer polymer composition RIM (reaction injection molding).
  • RIM reaction injection molding
  • At the upper end of each rope opening is an integral wedging portion surrounding that opening on and above the step's upper surface.
  • Each opening, at its outlet from this wedging portion, is approximately twice the diameter of each rope, so that it closely confines the two ropes. The opening there is much wider that where it emerges from the lower surface, and each opening is tapered inwardly from bottom to top.
  • Each step also has a pair of vertical bolt openings therethrough adjacent each through opening.
  • Each wedge collar has a step-engaging end wall and a distal end and a single elongated through opening, through which one pair of ropes passes and which at said step-engaging end is approximately the same width as the opening through the step where it abuts it.
  • the opening through the wedge collar tapers inwardly down to a narrower portion at the distal end, which is barely wide enough for the two ropes to pass therethrough.
  • Each wedge collar has an elongated pair of vertical bolt passages therethrough aligned with the bolt openings through the step.
  • a generally diamond-shaped wedge heart lies in between the ropes of each pair, a wedge heart lying partly in the through opening of each step and extending into the adjacent opening through the wedge collar.
  • the wedge heart has an upper vertex adjacent said upper outlet of said step's opening and a lower vertex at its lower end adjacent the bottom of the opening through the wedge collar.
  • the wedge heart provides two rope-engaging side grooves extending between and ending at these vertices; these grooves are in the assembly parallel to the opposite walls of the openings through the step and collar, respectively, so that these rope-engaging grooves, when the wedge heart is fully wedged in place, lock the pair of ropes in place and prevent relative movement between the ropes and the step, the wedge collar and the wedge heart.
  • a pair of bolts each fastened with a nut, extends through the bolt passages of the wedge collar and the bolt openings of the step, and hold the wedge collar and wedge heart in place, locking the ropes in fixed position relative to the wedge heart, the step, and the wedge collar.
  • the ladder step are provided with a non- slip surface and with strengthening structure.
  • the invention also includes a novel method of ladder assembly in which the wedging action is assured by tightening the parts together while also stretching the rope.
  • Fig. 1 shows a portion of a rope ladder 10 embodying the invention.
  • the ladder 10 is especially useful as a pilot's ladder for boarding and leaving ships and comprises four ropes distributed as two pairs of ropes 11, 12, and 13, 14, one pair at each side of the ladder 10.
  • the ladder 10 further comprises a series of regular steps 15 and, at intervals for example as usually prescribed by the United States Coast Guard, a series of elongated steps 16, which extend out well beyond the rope pairs 11,12 and 13,14, and help to keep the ladder 10 from turning or twisting relative to the side of a ship.
  • the invention comprises two wedge collars 17 and two wedge hearts 18 for each step 15 or 16.
  • the step 15, as shown in Figs. 2 through 5, 9, and 10, is a unitary one-piece molded member made from a suitable hard elastomer, such as a hard synthetic rubber composition. It has some flexibility but is not readily bent or flexed by hand.
  • the step 15 has an upper tread surface 20 which is shaped to reduce the liklihood of skidding or sliding thereon.
  • the step 15 also has a lower surface 21 which preferably includes a pair of strengthening ribs 22 and 23.
  • the step 15 has vertical front and rear edges 24, 25 and edges 26 and 27.
  • the step 15 has near or at each end 26,27 an integral, upwardly extending, rope-engaging portion 30,31 which is molded out with the step 15 of the same elastomer and at the same time, so that the portions 30 and 31 are simply parts of the step 15.
  • Down through each portion 30,31 is a through opening 32 or 33.
  • an entry opening 34 for each through opening 32,33 is wide and cooperates with the wedge heart 18 in a manner as will be seen later.
  • an outlet 35 from the opening 32, 33 which is narrow, preferably barely wide enough for the two ropes 11,12 or 13,14 to pass out, so that they are fairly snug there.
  • the inside surface 36 in between the entry 34 and outlet 35 is tapered and, being curved, acts like a groove to receive the round ropes.
  • each end of each step 15 has a pair of vertical bolt openings 37, 38 extending down through the portion 30,31 and through the entire step.
  • recesses 39 are provided to help receive a bolt 40 and to provide a bearing surface 41 for its head 42 (See Fig. 9).
  • the non-skid aspect of the upper surface 20 may be enhanced by first spraying a suitable paint 43 of a type which will adhere to that surface, then adding to it grit 44 and then coating with paint 45 again so as to bond the grit 44 to the paint 43,45 and through it to the step 15.
  • the elongated steps 16 are like the steps 15 except that they have outward outboard portions 46 and 47 which may comprise hard rubber rims 48 with openings 49 therethrough to save material and lighten the step while not decreasing its effectiveness for the purpose.
  • a wedge collar 17 is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 as well as in Fig; 9, and comprises a metal member basically like that disclosed in the previous application Serial No. 933 645, filed August 14, 1978.
  • Each wedge collar 17 has an upper surface 50 and a lower surface 51 and a through opening 52 which is generally like the openings 32,33, but inverted, with a wide opening 54 at the top 50 to a narrower opening 55 at the bottom 51 and a tapered as well as curved surface 56 in between.
  • the wide opening 54 is preferably exactly the same in dimension as the entry opening 34 of the step since it will mate against it.
  • the wedge collar 17 also has bolt openings 57,58 through which the bolt openings 37, 38 align and through which the bolts 40 are inserted, preferably from the top, with nuts 60 on the bottom that are tightened against a ledge 61, for which a recess 62 is provided, to hold the collar 17 in place against the step 15 or 16.
  • the wedge heart 18 (Fig. 6) is of generally diamond shape, having a vertex 63 at the top and a vertex 64 at the bottom and with concave rope guides or grooves 65 and 66 along its two opposite edges; it has flat side faces 67 and 68 as shown in Figs. 6 and 9.
  • Each wedge heart 18 is inserted between the two ropes 11,12 or 13,14 and lies with its widest portion 69 at about the plane where the lower surface 21 of the step 15 and the upper surface 50 of the wedge collar meet; its upper apex 63 lies at about the upper face of the portion 30 in the outlet 35, while its lower apex 64 lies at about the lower outlet 55 from the wedge collar 17.
  • the grooves 65 and 66 are parallel to the curved end walls of the openings 37 and 38 of the step 15 or 16 and to the curved end walls of the openings 52 of the wedge collar 17.
  • the heart 18 then locks the step 15 (or 16), the wedge collar 17, and itself to the ropes 11,12 or 13,14, so that relative movement between them cannot take place.
  • the rope ladder 10 is preferably assembled from the bottom up, the bottommost step 15 being assembled first; and the parts 15,16, and 17 are threaded on the rope 11,12 and 13,14 in advance. Assembly of an intermediate step 15 is shown.
  • a rigid anvil member 70 is secured to a pair of vertical supports 71,72 which are secured firmly to a suitable rigid vertical support or wall 73.
  • the upper edge 20 of a next upper step 15 is brought up against the lower surface of the anvil 70.
  • each cylinder 74,75 has a rod 76,77 connected to its piston (not shown).
  • the rods 76 and 77 support a crosshead 78.
  • a wedge collar 17, after having been threaded through it ropes, is inserted on an end shelf 79 at each end of the crosshead 78, and a wedge heart 18 is inserted in between each pair of ropes 11,12 and 13,14. Then, hydraulic pressure is exerted to raise the crosshead 78 as shown in Fig.
  • the steps 15 are about twenty inches long, about five inches (12,7 cm) wide, and about an inch (2,5 cm) thick at the tread.
  • the elongated steps 16 are typically about seventy inches (178 cm) long, and the openings 49 about two inches (5 cm) by eight inches (21 cm), there being two openings 49 on each side of each step 16.
  • the spreader steps 16 of this invention solve several problems .
  • Conventional wooden spreaders tend to catch the wind, and when they do, they tend to cause the ladder to twist or spin, thereby making ascent or descent dangerous, if not impossible.
  • the openings 49 let the wind pass through the outboard positions 46 and 47 and greatly reduce the wind resistance, thereby significantly increasing the ladder's safety.
  • the rims 48 due to the openings 49, serve as hand holds when needed, as on windy days and nights, thereby adding another safety feature. Beyond all this, the openings 49 lighten the weight of the ladder 10 considerably, and weight is always a consideration for pilot ladders.
  • the molded one-piece hard elastomer polymer composition RIM may have a reinforcement by means of a tubular material completely imbedded or concealed in the body of the step to add additional strength and prevent flexing.
  • the tubular reinforcing is preferably connected on the ends of the tubular reinforcements by bolts through the bottom collar to form a peripheral framework.
  • the tubular reinforcement also acts as a buoyancy factor.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ladders (AREA)
EP19800106816 1980-11-05 1980-11-05 Echelle de corde à échelons d'élastomère dur moulés et procédé pour son assemblage Expired EP0051087B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE8080106816T DE3070078D1 (en) 1980-11-05 1980-11-05 Rope ladder with molded hard elastomer steps and a method for assembly of the same
EP19800106816 EP0051087B1 (fr) 1980-11-05 1980-11-05 Echelle de corde à échelons d'élastomère dur moulés et procédé pour son assemblage

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19800106816 EP0051087B1 (fr) 1980-11-05 1980-11-05 Echelle de corde à échelons d'élastomère dur moulés et procédé pour son assemblage

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0051087A1 true EP0051087A1 (fr) 1982-05-12
EP0051087B1 EP0051087B1 (fr) 1985-01-30

Family

ID=8186877

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19800106816 Expired EP0051087B1 (fr) 1980-11-05 1980-11-05 Echelle de corde à échelons d'élastomère dur moulés et procédé pour son assemblage

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0051087B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3070078D1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002087692A1 (fr) 2001-04-26 2002-11-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Methode et appareil de traitement d'affections de la peau inesthetiques

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL64147C (fr) * 1900-01-01
US800934A (en) * 1904-04-25 1905-10-03 Mary J Mcarthur Fire-escape ladder.
DE500403C (de) * 1930-06-20 Fritz Ludwig Bartels Stufenhalter fuer Lotsentreppen
DE660368C (de) * 1936-12-31 1938-05-24 Paul Wichmann Lotsen- oder Sturmleiter
US3077241A (en) * 1960-09-15 1963-02-12 Columbus Auto Parts Rope ladder
US3128843A (en) * 1964-04-14 Rope ladder
GB1310884A (en) * 1959-05-07 1973-03-21 Dunlop Holdings Ltd Steps for rope ladders
US4177878A (en) * 1978-05-01 1979-12-11 Salvarezza Robert M Rope ladder

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL64147C (fr) * 1900-01-01
DE500403C (de) * 1930-06-20 Fritz Ludwig Bartels Stufenhalter fuer Lotsentreppen
US3128843A (en) * 1964-04-14 Rope ladder
US800934A (en) * 1904-04-25 1905-10-03 Mary J Mcarthur Fire-escape ladder.
DE660368C (de) * 1936-12-31 1938-05-24 Paul Wichmann Lotsen- oder Sturmleiter
GB1310884A (en) * 1959-05-07 1973-03-21 Dunlop Holdings Ltd Steps for rope ladders
US3077241A (en) * 1960-09-15 1963-02-12 Columbus Auto Parts Rope ladder
US4177878A (en) * 1978-05-01 1979-12-11 Salvarezza Robert M Rope ladder

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002087692A1 (fr) 2001-04-26 2002-11-07 The Procter & Gamble Company Methode et appareil de traitement d'affections de la peau inesthetiques

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3070078D1 (en) 1985-03-14
EP0051087B1 (fr) 1985-01-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4241809A (en) Rope ladder with molded hard elastomer steps and a method for assembly of the same
US4554996A (en) Rope ladder with molded hard elastomer steps and replacement steps and collars therefor
US5281055A (en) Floating dock
US6199502B1 (en) Concrete module for floating structures and method of construction
US6474029B1 (en) Roadway, hardstand, floor or fence/wall
US4408680A (en) Ladder support assembly
US3999397A (en) Modular dock system
US3967569A (en) Floating dock
US20070137547A1 (en) Apparatus for affixing a dock to a mooring pole
EP2440447A2 (fr) Appareil protecteur pour structures marines
US6536992B1 (en) Dock structure with adjustable fixtures
US5915325A (en) Portable floating dock system
NO127100B (fr)
US4355431A (en) Bridge element
EP0051087A1 (fr) Echelle de corde à échelons d'élastomère dur moulés et procédé pour son assemblage
CA1132507A (fr) Echelle de corde a marches dures en elastomere moule, et methode d'assemblage connexe
US4655321A (en) Rope ladder with molded hard elastomer steps and method for assemblying the ladder therefor
GB1603412A (en) Inflatable hulls
US5152371A (en) Lightweight scaffolding
US4587780A (en) Spiral staircase
US6902037B2 (en) Device for securing rope ladder steps
US6526706B1 (en) Beach stairway
US5031564A (en) Snubber strip
US5215028A (en) Floating structures
AU592621B2 (en) Mast ladder

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19821109

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3070078

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19850314

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19891117

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19891127

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19891130

Year of fee payment: 10

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19901106

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19901130

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: SALVAREZZA ROBERT MARIO

Effective date: 19901130

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19910601

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19911107

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19911129

Year of fee payment: 12

ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Effective date: 19930730

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Effective date: 19930803

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19931027

Year of fee payment: 14

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Effective date: 19941105

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 80106816.4

Effective date: 19910705

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19941105